This close, I can see the panic in her eyes.
“It’ll be fine. I’ll tell them we need to wash the sheets and they won’t know the difference.”
“Declan. Your mom is going to see right through me. I can’t lie to her.”
“You think I like this? I hate lying to my parents.”
“I’m sorry, I know you don’t. But it’s only for tonight right?” she asks. “Then they’ll go home and I’ll go back to my room.”
I nod. “Right. Back to normal.”
Or about as normal as it can get right now.
“We can do this.” Alice reaches out and squeezes my hand. “We’ve gotten ourselves into worse situations than this.”
“Like getting married?”
She laughs. “Yeah, like that. But I was thinking that time we tried to sneak into a concert in college and got caught by security.”
“I only did it because you wanted to go,” I correct. “I mean, who sneaks into a folk show?”
“Stop it.” She smacks me. “You had fun.”
“Until security got us. I’m lucky I didn’t get kicked off the hockey team.”
“Are you two going to come eat? Food is getting cold,” Dad interrupts.
“We’re coming,” I answer.
“We’ve got this,” Alice tells me before going back into the kitchen.
I guess if I have to fake a marriage with anyone, I’m glad it’s her.
Chapter Eleven
DECLAN
“Wow. This is quite the restaurant.” Mom looks around in awe.
“I thought you might want to try something different. It’s new.”
The dim sum, ramen, and dumplings restaurant is one of my favorites. Red lanterns hang down from the metal beams crisscrossing the ceiling. A window into the kitchen shows the chefs making the various dishes.
“How were you able to get a reservation on such short notice?” Dad asks, helping Mom with her seat.
I help Alice before taking my seat next to her. She looks beautiful in a black-and-white striped sundress with thin straps.
“Well, when I said my name, they got me in.”
Dad gives me a quizzical stare. “Should you be using your name like that?”
“Relax, Aiden.” Mom swats at him. “We’re thankful you two were able to come out with us.”
Alice smiles at her. “I’m glad you were able to come on a day I didn’t work and we could spend the day together.”
“Those bouquets you helped me make are just gorgeous. All my friends will be jealous when we get home.”
“Well, you know when you get me started on flowers, I don’t stop.”
