“It’s true! And we decided to keep this until Amanda wants him back. Until then-”
“She’ll have the privilege to be my girlfriend.”
“Fakegirlfriend.”
“Whatever.” He responds as if it’s the same thing. Maybe for him, but not for me. For him, it would be one of the many relationships he has. Yes, because he hasa lotof them. When he and Amanda break up, he goes back to the city, as do we, and goes to school,ourschool, where girls fall at his feet, and he dates one per week, and that’s an understatement.
“Wait! My dad. He must be worried!” I remember. I didn’t tell him that I had gotten home yesterday, and I didn’t even leave a message.
“About that.” Allison grins.
“I got up with your dad asking where you were, and I didn’t know, so I called Riden to ask if he had seen you two. He said that he hadn’t, and Jake’s parents were also worried. While we were still on the phone, I remembered to go to the clothesline, and your dad followed. And then-”
“Oh my dear god! He saw us like this?!” I frantically ask.
“Yep, but he wasn’t the only one! I was still on the phone with Riden and told him I had found you and said to him and Jake’s parents to go to the balcony and-”
“The Wests saw us like this?!”
“Oh yes.” Riden is the one talking now. “Then all the parents disappeared, and I came to meet Allison here, took a few selfies and photos, and then you woke up.”
Of course, they took photos. They are gonnahauntme to my dying breath.
I walk to the kitchen with all of them following.
“Good afternoon dad!” I say.
“Look who decided to show up! No note, no warning! You scared me, Maddie!” He scolds. “And when I do find you, you are very,veryclose to Jake West.” He may be scolding me, but I can see a smile starting to appear. I just can’t with this family. Has he finally gone crazy?
“Why are you smiling?” I question.
“I tried to be mad at you, but my little girl finally has a boyfriend.” He sighs. “I was starting to get worried that you wouldn’t have the experience, since you were always in here with your sister and me, and you were always with your nose in books and you didn’t sociali-”
“Okay dad. I get it.”
He isn’t wrong, though, and I don’t blame him for thinking, and I know he did, that I was going to stay single until I finished college, or until I’m 30. I guess I love to think about it and read about it and see it, but I don’t have the patience to be in a relationship.
The teenagers start to laugh at my dad’s comments.
“And you three, stop laughing!” I glare at them.
“Where’s the food?” I ask, annoyed, and hug my dad.
“The food is on the table, and I made it for all of you. I already ate.” He presses a kiss into my head, then I let go of him, and he gets out of the kitchen.
I sit at the table, not waiting for them, and start to eat with my usual manners. They then sit around the table, and Allison is currently face-palming, Riden is shaking his head, eyes wide open, probably still not believing that I eat like this, and Jake is used to it, so he casually speaks with an annoyed face.
“Have you ever considered, I don’t know, maybe being civil?”
“And have you ever considered not talking?” I reply.
Allison finally intervenes.
“You two stop with the bickering, and Riden, stop staring at Mads’s manners. I think this plan’s crazy, but it could work. I’m dying to see Mads being all softie with Jake.” She grins, probably imagining me being a sweetheart with the one and only Jake West.Idon’t know how I am going to do it. I’ve never been a soft, caring person at all. I hate hugs and kisses and handholding. I’m a bitter, loveless old lady, I’m aware.
“Oh shut up. I can do it!” I defend.
I can perfectly fake my disgusted face every time I have to touch Jake. I’m a good liar when I want to. Usually, I’m toolazyto be a good liar, but I’ve already tricked many people, and they never suspected it. That’s why Allison thinks I can’t do it. Because I never bothered to really lie to her, so I always failed. But this time I won’t be lazy. I just have to get used to it, that’s it.
