Page 20 of My Fake Fiancé

When I pull up to my parent’s house, I idle in the driveway, looking up at the house. I can see my mother inside preparing the table and my dad sitting on the edge of his seat, probably watching some sports game. I smile and get out of the car, turning it off then locking it and walking up to the front door. I have a key but I open the screen door and knock on the front door to be polite. I know my mother will be busy so she’ll ask my dad to answer it. He does.

“Juli!” He says, happy to see me.

“Hi, Daddy,” I say and forward to embrace my dad. He hugs me back tightly and then lets me into the house, shutting and locking the door behind me.

“How are you?” He asks as we make our way into the living room. He sits back in his chair, the TV on mute but I can see him check the scores before he turns back to me. I smile at him, I love him very much. He’s always been the quieter one in my family. Supporting me through everything. Although I may have done some things he did not like, he has always been there for me.

I sit back on the couch and sigh. “I’m okay. How have you been?” I ask, redirecting the conversation to him. “How has work been?” My dad works as the Director of Technology at a large company. With many team members under him, his job keeps him busy.

“I had a busy day today. A lot of meetings. I had to give two presentations today and we were the only group who used PowerPoint to present.” I laugh, finding it funny that the tech group was the only group to use technology while presenting. The other presentations must have been very boring, I think to myself, but I guess it’s good the tech group knew what they were doing.

We talk for a little while longer then he pauses and pats my arm. “You should go talk to your mother.” I chuckle and nod then stand up and make my way into the kitchen, surprised she hadn’t sought me out to talk about Kurt. She must be trying to restrain herself.

“Hello, Mother,” I say, guarding myself and standing at the edge of the kitchen. She has her back to me but I know she heard me.

“Juliana,” she says, formally, keeping up my awkward interaction. “It’s good to see you. I’ve almost finished dinner. Would you please cut up the celery and tomatoes?” She asks but it’s more of a request. I set down my things at the breakfast table then wash my hands before grabbing a smaller knife and cutting the celery first then slicing the tomato after I wash the knife.

My mother is quiet for a few minutes but I want to get this over with so I bring it up first. “Mom,” I say. “about Kurt…” I begin then pause and wait for her to react.

“Yes, I was waiting for you to mention that. How come you didn’t tell me sooner?” She turns on me and comes at me asking a million questions and not giving me any time to answer a single one. I continue slicing the tomato while she asks questions to her heart's content. Once I finish slicing the tomato, I wash off the knife and put it in the dishwasher. I then dump the tomatoes into the salad bowl and cut the celery in the bowl with the chicken. All while my mother is still asking questions. I try to hide my smile of amusement.

Finally, when she stops for a moment to breathe, I take my chance and answer a few of her many questions. “Yes, Kurt and I are engaged. I hadn’t had the chance to tell you yet and wanted to tell you in person but then you kept calling before I could come see you and Daddy and so I am sorry you heard about it over the phone. Well, you heard it from Callum first, which, Mother, is completely disturbing. He had no right to contact you.” I stop and calm myself before I explode. I begin mixing the celery into the chicken and mayonnaise to give myself something to do. “Kurt’s mother has arranged for us to have an engagement party tomorrow night at their lake house. You and Daddy are, of course, invited.”

She brightens at all of the news and is suddenly happy once again. “Well, I am just so excited for the two of you. I was very hurt to hear it from your ex, which I agree was weird. I have since blocked his number,” she tells me and I nod and smile in appreciation. “But I have always adored Kurt. He is so polite. His family is quite proper, you know. You’ll have to shape up if you expect them to accept you into their family.”

“Gee Mom, thanks so much for that.” I roll my eyes and brush the insult away. Mom reaches over and squeezes my arm, giving me a loving smile and a laugh. I shake my head but smile and grab the salad bowl and the bowl of chicken salad and make my way to the table. My mother follows behind me with potato salad and fruit salad. I smile thinking about our ‘Salads Nights’. We try to make every salad imaginable. Well, the ones we will eat. Which includes; chicken salad, potato salad, fruit salad, and actual salad with iceberg lettuce. Tonight does not include my Mom’s delicious taco salad though. That dish has its own night.

We set the food on the table then I go into the living room. “Dad? Dinner’s ready.” He nods and gets up, his eyes still on the game then he mutes it again, and pulls his eyes away, following me into the dining room.

Once we sit down and fill our plates, my dad begins the conversation. “Oh hey, your mother told me about you and Kurt, congratulations. Are you happy?” He looks at me, searching my face to find my real emotions. I smile.

“Yeah, I am. He’s a great guy.” I say and start to eat so I don’t have to say much else. My dad watches me for a second but then starts eating and to keep the conversation civil, he tells us more about his presentation.

Halfway through dinner, my mother brought up the party tomorrow and suddenly, I am nervous again. Luckily, I make it through dinner without too many more questions and I leave my parents’ house in one piece. As I drive back to my apartment, I realize how exhausted I am and know I am going to sleep like a rock when my head hits the pillow.

Chapter 20

Juliana

On the day of our engagement party, I am stressed beyond belief. I pick up my phone and call Kurt for the third time. He answers after the first ring and he doesn’t waste time with formalities.

“Stop worrying.” He says automatically and I sigh, feeling better just hearing his voice. “It will be fine. And no, it isn’t a dressy evening. I’m coming over now. I’ll be there in about ten minutes. Okay?” He always seems to know what to say so I nod, then realize he can’t see me.

“Yes, okay. You can come up when you get here.” He responds again telling me not to worry and that he’ll see me soon then he hangs up. I sit back on my bed and let out a breath.

After very little convincing, Tatyana agreed to come to the party for moral support. She and Mike had plans before the party so Tatyana is already out of the apartment, leaving me alone to freak out. Before she left though, she gave me a little “pep talk”. This “pep talk” mostly included her telling me that Kurt was cute and I should have a little fun. It wasn’t very helpful but her teasing made me feel a little more relaxed. But now, I was alone, sitting on my bed, my hair dripping wet from my shower and nothing on but a shower towel. And I was back to freaking out.

I get up off my bed and start pacing the room. After about two laps around the room, I remember how stupid this is. I don’t even like pacing, it has never helped me solve anything. Sighing, I go out to the living room, I go to the door and unlock it so Kurt can get in easily then I throw myself onto the couch. I grunt when I land then I reach for the remote, turning the TV on and trying to distract myself.

I’m flipping through channels when I hear a knock on my door. “Come in!” I yell and I hear the door open but I’m too lazy to look up. I should not have unlocked the door because the next thing I know, there are fingertips lightly trailing down my leg. I jerk away from them and jump up off the couch, knowing Kurt would not be that forward with me.

“Callum! What are you doing here? How did you get in?” I ask then realize how stupid I am. “Why are you here?” I step away from him, very aware of the fact that I am not wearing anything except my shower towel. I was so stressed and nervous for tonight that I decided not to get dressed before lounging, waiting for Kurt to help me decide what to wear.

“Just checking in on you, love.” He says, trying to sound innocent but he smirks as he rakes his eyes up and down my body. I take another step back and grab a blanket off the couch, wrapping it around myself.

“You need to leave,” I state firmly, my voice not wavering for a second. Hey, maybe I am getting stronger.

Callum just takes a step closer. “Why? You’re my girl. No one else would want you.” I’m more than a little offended by that comment and am about to respond when I hear another voice.

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