Page 30 of Fake

“There’s a difference between surviving and living, thank you very much.” Angela rolls her eyes and takes a long drink. “Mom is the one who actually brought him back to life.”

“My dad never really recovered. I mean, his body healed, but his mind…” I shrug, wondering how to bring the conversation back to safer ground. “He was medically discharged then made it two more years before he hit the skids and left me and my mom to fend for ourselves.”

I try to present the information like it has no weight. Like it’s a piece of data and nothing more. But I still hear my parents fighting in those awful years leading up to his disappearance.

“My mother raised me alone,” I continue, going for nonchalant and failing, “working crazy hours to make sure I had the life she thought I deserved. I mean, right up until I was old enough to get a job, then I insisted she let me contribute, much to her dismay.” I swallow a lump in my throat and force a smile. “And now I’m doing everything I can to return the favor.”

Everyone bobs their heads in that way that means I’ve wandered out of comfortable small talk and fallen into too much detail. I wonder how they’d react if they knew that when I said I’d do everything I can for Mom, that includes pretending to date their cousin.

Nathan stares for a long moment, his dark eyes bouncing across my face like he’s seeing something he didn’t expect. Hopefully, he’ll take the conversational ball and give me time to remove these stupid feet from my mouth.

Alas. I should know better than to expect help from a villain. All he seems capable of doing is glaring. At me. His cousins. His drink. Just a ray of sunshine, that one.

“But that’s enough of that,” I say, giving Nathan a withering look. “I didn’t embarrass myself too badly with your parents, did I? I mean, considering I can sing every one of their songs…”

“Do you sing?” asks Angela.

“Badly.” I chuckle. “I’ve heard babies who sound better than me. And cats.”

“Speaking of kids and music,” Micah says, swatting Nathan on the arm. “Nell said she saw you at the talent show this afternoon.”

Wait…

This afternoon? That was the super important meeting he couldn’t miss? A talent show?

Nathan glares at the spot his cousin hit and arches an annoyed eyebrow. “One of my kids was performing.”

Micah pulls his lips into an exaggerated frown. “I didn’t know you got that involved with your students.”

Across the room, someone laughs loudly, then turns up the music. I want to hush them because I don’t want to miss one word of this explanation. Nathan West, The Prince of Darkness, has students? There are people who actually let him near their children?

“I usually don’t,” Nathan says. “But this guy is incredibly talented and has the worst self-esteem. He started to panic and was going to pull out of the show. He texted me for help. What was I gonna do? Leave him high and dry?”

“That’s so you.” Angela beams with nothing short of adoration. “You’re always the one who drops everything to take care of the world.”

That’s so him?

We know very different versions of Nathan West.

“You were at a talent show this afternoon?” I ask, incredulously.

“Yeah.” Nathan frowns, eyeing me like he wants to beam information into my brain. “You know. I told you about Ricky. He’s in my guitar class at the foundation?”

So much to digest.

Nathan plays the guitar…

He shares his knowledge with underprivileged kids…

He makes house calls when they’re nervous…

And here I pegged him as one of those guys who hates all things creative and growls at passing children. I stare at the man across from me, trying to fit this new puzzle piece into the image I’ve built. He’s rude. He exploits small infractions like an accidental text message for big financial gains. He’s willing to fake a relationship and lie to his family rather than make better choices.

And he’s a role model?

I guess even villains have a tender side.

“Oh. Right. Yeah. Ricky.” I clear my throat and search for words that might form an actual sentence. “Of course I know all about Ricky. How could I have forgotten Ricky?”

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