“Umm,” my eyes widen, “isn’t he like your brother’s archnemesis?”
“Do people still say archnemesis? I thought that was like a cartoon thing.”
“Is he, though?” I press. “Last summer they couldn’t even be on the same street without fighting. I mean, they were close, and something happened, right?”
Her face stiffens. “I know, but I didn’t choose to have feelings for Holden. They just happened, and now we’re here, and I can’t stop thinking about him.”
“Does the threat of your brother killing him for looking at you help, ‘cause that’s what he’d do. He’d kill him.”
“Well, he hasn’t found out yet, and Holden and I have been sneaking around for months.”
My jaw drops to the ground. “What?”
“Yeah.” She shrugs and twists the screen back toward her with a sigh. “You’re the only person who knows. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, but I’ve never felt more alive.”
My jaw must be filling with concrete because I can’t close my mouth.
“He’s like the sweetest, roughest guy I’ve ever met, and I know it’s wrong. I shouldn’t want him,” she shrugs, “but our feelings keep getting stronger.”
“So wait… how did you guys start like—”
My phone rings, interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at the screen to see my mother calling.
Shoot. I forgot to pop back into the store and let her know I was leaving. “Sorry, I have to take this quick, or I’ll never hear the end of it.”
Maya nods and pulls out her own phone to text. I bet it’s Holden. Oh God, I bet it’s Holden. There’s so much to unpack there, but right now I have to handle my own crazy.
“Hey, Mom. Sorry I ran off. There was a work emergency.”
“That’s okay, honey.” My stomach churns as she speaks because I know this tone. She’s about to ask for something. “I was thinking… it would be nice to get to know your boyfriend a little more before the wedding. Let’s meet up tonight at that Italian restaurant on Main. My treat.”
“Oh.” Panic rattles through me in the form of nausea. There’s no way in hell I’m having a one-on-one dinner with my mother and Jake. It’s also weird that she’s asking. She hasn’t asked to have dinner with me in years. “Tonight is weird for Jake. He has a meeting with the contractors.”
Wow! Another lie! I’m out of control!
“All night?”
Oh my God!
“No, not all night, but—”
“Great! Text me what time works and we’ll meet you there.”
“We?”
“I thought it would be good to bring your sister too. Anyway… it’s a date, sweetheart. I’ll see you soon.”
The line disconnects, and my heart shoots into my throat until I feel the beat against my esophagus.
“I take it that wasn’t good,” Maya says, leaning forward. “What happened?”
“She wants to meet for dinner tonight. She knows something is up. I can tell it in her voice. It’s like she wants to catch me in something before the wedding.”
“No. Maybe she just wants to meet the guy. I mean—”
“Trust me, I know my mother. She’s got two voices. Mean and fake nice. Fake nice is always reserved for future pain or embarrassment. She thinks she knows something.”
“So don’t go tonight.” Maya shrugs and sends off a text she’s been carefully writing. “You don’thaveto have dinner with her.”
