Of course, Mr. and Mrs. Wallace had a lot of questions for me, and I was polite and conversational, though I was growing more and more upset with Seth as the night progressed. Our parents were under the impression that Seth and I were a serious couple, and they all appeared excited at the prospect. I hated disappointing four innocent bystanders.
As we were wrapping up the evening, my parents and Seth’s were chatting about how they all needed to get together sometime soon in South Carolina. Mr. Wallace would take Dad golfing, and Mrs. Wallace would take Mom on a foodie tour of Charleston.
After I said good-bye to the Wallaces, Seth walked them outside, leaving me in the restaurant lobby with my parents.
“What an incredible family,” Dad said, shaking his head in admiration. “You lucked out with Seth, kiddo.”
“I’m just happy that you’re happy.” Mom hugged me, looking at me closely. “You are happy, aren’t you?”
Now was not the time or place to get into the state of my mental health, so I simply smiled. “Seth and I have a lot to talk about.”
“You couldn’t ask for a nicer family to be connected to,” Dad said.
Seth returned to the restaurant and said good-bye to my parents, then turned to me as they walked out.
“Surprised?” he asked, looking pleased with himself.
The facade I had worn all night finally slipped away, and my eyes burned with angry tears. “Why didn’t you ask me first?”
Seth glanced at the poor hostess, who seemed to be watching our every move, and gently put his hand on the small of my back to guide me outside.
“Are you angry, Meg?”
“Angry?” I just stared at him. Was he truly that clueless, orwas he purposely trying not to understand me? “Angry does not begin to describe how I’m feeling.”
“Why?”
A group of people were leaving the restaurant, so he led me to the side of the building where we’d have more privacy. Was this all an act? Was he seriously surprised that I was angry?
“People do not introduce each other to their parents until they are serious, and never without consent. I don’t know how to be clearer with you. I am not ready for a serious relationship.”
“I don’t get you.” He finally looked angry, too. “We’re so good together. Everyone thinks so.”
“Who is everyone?”
“The newspapers, to begin with.”
Thatwas his first response? “That’s another thing. How are they getting such intimate pictures of us? How did the photographer know we were going to be at the park?” I looked around the dark street. “Is there someone here now? Hoping to get a picture of us meeting each other’s families? Will I see photos tomorrow morning of all of us sitting at the table?”
The look on Seth’s face revealed everything. He briefly glanced toward a building on the opposite side of the street.
My mouth fell open, and my voice rose. “There is a photographer here, isn’t there?”
“It’s not what you think, Meg.” He put up his hands to shush me. “Pictures don’t hurt anyone. If you care about me, then you care about my career. I’m always campaigning.”
“Are you admitting that you’ve been hiring the photographers? Staging events to benefit your political career?” I looked across the road, my jaw tight with fury. “What will they do when they see us fighting? Will they publish those pictures, too?”
“They only publish the ones I approve.” His answer was so weak, so pathetic, and I took a step away from him.
“Meg.” He tried to take my hand in his, but I pulled away.“I’m leaving in the morning, and I won’t be back for almost a month. I have a lot of meetings and events to attend in South Carolina while I’m gone. I don’t want to leave on a bad note.”
“This is over, Seth.” I shook my head. “If I can’t trust you, and you can’t take no for an answer, then there’s nothing left to say.”
“You can’t be serious.” He stared at me, anger and confusion written all over his face. “This isn’t supposed to end this way.”
I lifted my eyebrows, incredulous. “Did you have that all planned out, too? How was it supposed to end, Seth? In an epic break-up that would somehow make me look bad and strengthen your approval rating?”
“No.” His anger receded, and he just looked sad. “It wasn’t ever supposed to end. I know I did some foolish things, Meg, but I’m in love with you. Surely you have to see that.”
