“I was mortified! I couldn’t believe it, I had been trashing his country and its people for a whole night, and he was just smiling up at me like that didn’t matter.”
I’m pretty sure my eyes are glistening like I’m reading one of my unattainable romance novels. I’m mesmerized by their story. Of course, my dad had told me before, but it’s different seeing it told in person. Their reactions, their body language, and theirlove. There’s nothing quite like it.
“Only took about a hundred flights to the UK and one tense dinner with her parents to put a ring on her finger.” He kisses her hand, and she suppresses the biggest smile ever. “And then we expelled Jake here from our love to the world…” They look passionately at each other, and Jake is shocked.
“Don’t say it like that!Jesus… Weirdos.” He shakes his head, and I’m sure that even though he’s disgusted on the outside, inside, he’s happy and comforted by their love. In a way, you could say I’m a Jakeolist. I can see his bullshit from a mile away. I can tell when he’s lying or when he’s genuinely happy. Or sad. He’s rarely angry, which is odd, too.
“As if there aren’t many girls who are happy your parents didn’t sleep that night…” It leaves my mouth before I can help it, and then I’m the one who is absolutelymortified. I DID NOT JUST SAY THAT. WHAT THE HELL?!
They all look at me, eyes wide and mouths slightly open, until Joey bursts out laughing and Emily along.
“I’m so sorry, I-I don’t know what took over me, I-” They just keep on laughing, and their happiness is contagious, so soon enough I’m smiling too. I glance at Jake, and he’s watching me intently, with a slight smirk on his face.
I ignore it, his stare. Too intense andfakefor me to care for it.
The rest of dinner goes by in no time, and when Joey gets up to take everyone’s dishes to the kitchen, West gets up too, following him, and I’m left staring at the tablecloth.
“You shouldn’t be worried, Maddie.” Emily says, and my eyes look up to her face. “I know you’re probably torturing yourself right now, and you shouldn’t…”
My heart drops. Was I so obvious? Did she figure it out?
“How did you-”
“You weren’t yourself all throughout this dinner. It was frankly quite disappointing since you’re such a delight to be with.” I examine my hands, ashamed to look her in the eyes. “God knows how much you’ve been through, but you shouldn’t worry about Joey and me thinking you’re not a good fit for Jake.Ever. Even if you two don’t work out, andifthat happens, no matter who breaks up with who, I can assure you, you will still be the best thing that could have happened to Jake.”
I try not to sigh in an obvious way becausethank god she didn’t figure it out. But also,why is she seeing through my mind right now?
“And you can always count on me. Got it?” It’s almost as if she makes me say yes, but I couldn’t be more thankful because when this ends, I’ll still be welcome and won’t seem like an ungrateful brat who just dumped their son due to her mommy issues.
I nod affirmatively, and she smiles, content.
When Joey and Jake come back, we get up, and I wave them goodbye because I think that if Ihuggedthem goodbye, I wouldnever let goand start screaming I’M SO SORRY, WE’RE LYING, PLEASE DON’T HATE ME!
Soyeah…
As soon as I step foot outside, it’s like some type of weight is lifted off my shoulders. That’s it for the night.
I look up to the starry night as if searching for some type of reassurance that I’m not overreacting or that I’m just simply making those mistakes you should make when you’re seventeen. Of course, it’s not every day you fake date the boy who put acountry mouse in your sleeping bag when you were nine, but it is what it is.
“I’m sorry you had to lie to them. Thinking back, I should have just said no to dinner.” West expresses remorse, which is new for him, and I just kick the gravel on the road.
“You had to lie to my dad, too, so we’re even.”
But we’re really not, and I think he knows that, too.
“Except John is my dad’s best friend and gave me cool gifts on Christmas and my mom…”
I gaze forward at the end of the road, well aware of all the things his mom did for me and didn’t have to.
“When I was younger, I looked up to your parents’ love. I loved it, and when we were eating at yours or just hanging out, I almost forgot that when I came home…” Pause. “My dad did everything alone. Worked in editing, cooked, cleaned, took us to school, and picked us up. Still had time to make our lunch in the mornings and leave a special note. I actually overheard him sometimes turning down invitations to a night out or a drink with a friend. He reassured us there was nothing else he would rather be doing than watching every Barbie movie known to humanity.”
“Your dad is… I don’t know how he did it. I’m glad you found escape in my parents; it’s the least they could offer, but trust me, not everything is as it seems.”
My face twists at that. Emily and Joey? Not living up to their disgusting love displays? I beg to differ, but then again, West never told me anything. He knows every traumatic event that went down in my life, and I didn’t get to choose if he knew or not, but he… He’s too jolly for his own good. I may be angry all the time, but he’s happy all the time, and that’s concerning… Or maybe I’m just projecting, but I don’t think so. It’s in these moments that I truly wonder what goes on deep inside him.Beneath the charm, and the smirk, the pranks, the laugh that sometimes never reaches his eyes.
I glance at him, distraught and looking around.
I can only wonder…
