This scammer is either a sweet talkerorI’ve finally won the lottery.
Looks like it's time for me to pack my bags and kiss my education goodbye!
“You know, Nate, your timing is perfect. I was wondering when Vivienne would admit to your presence in her life.”
My breath gets stuck in my lungs, and an eerie chill runs down my spine.
Why didn’t I save his number?Frustration spikes through me.
In an instant, I’m contorting my body to reach for the phone, but nothing ever stops Margaret from getting her way. She shimmies away and keeps talking like that was child’s play.
“We’re about to have dinner. How about you join us?”
Absolutely not.
I make another attempt at grabbingmyphone, only to have a towel slung in my direction. The world turns black, and the faint smell of water infiltrates my nose before I drag the towel off my face.
“Wonderful. Guess we’ll see you soon!” Margaret smiles in satisfaction as she hangs up, tucking my phone into the pocket of my dress.
I glance down at the blue cotton in distaste—so much for celebration.
“Before you get mad, I’d like to reason that it’s only fair. The entire world met your boyfriend before I did.”
“But that’s the thing—he isn’t my boyfriend!”
Margaret turns to me, confusion etched on her brows. “You seriously don’t know?”
I blink, unsure of what she’s referring to when the doorbell rings.
Margaret doesn’t have to say a word; the look she gives me is enough. And with heavy steps, I drag myself forward, mentally preparing to face the man I hate most.
———
The food lies forgotten, my sanity is somewhere out the window, and my enemy is charming the elders sitting in front of us. Phil and Margaret are most definitely in love with Nate, as evidenced by the cartoon hearts bursting from their eyes. Personally, I think he’s overrated.
“I’ll have to admit, I think our Vivienne chose well.” Margaret turns to Phil with a beaming grin, and he nods in approval.
My head swivels in their direction, trying my absolute hardest not to narrow my eyes at them. I love those two too much to show them that kind of blatant disrespect.
“As previously stated, not a boyfriend. Not aboyfriend. He’s just a boy, really.”
To send that message home, I sat on the complete opposite end of the same couch—with around three fountains, fifty coffee cups, and twenty evil geese of space between us. You’d think that would be enough to support my claim, but I’m simply dismissed with the flick of a weathered hand.
“You know, Vivienne, I’d been wondering why you dressed so nicely today, but I get it now—it was for theboy all along! You could have told me about your plans. I wouldn’t have wanted to intrude,” Margaret says, her voice dripping with mock sorrow.
Nate chokes back a laugh—one that quickly turns into a cough when I stare him down.
He’s got no right to be amused.
“What can I say? My girl likes to dress up for me.”
I still, shocked at the words that just left his mouth.
A cup ofboiling,nocream,nosugar coffee dumped all over his head seems fitting for revenge.
“She really is a special one, isn’t she?” Margaret swoons. “Now, I have to ask, what are your intentions with her, young man?”
Nate freezes for the first time since getting here, and it’s my turn to smile. Karma’s a bitch, and I’m happy that, for once, she’s on my side.
