Page 60 of Masquerade Mistake

“Ethan, I didn’t mean to…”

“I know, Claire,” he says, looking back at me. “I know there are so many layers to this situation, and there are things you had to do that I couldn’t possibly understand. But it doesn’t make it hurt any less. We’ve only known each other a short time, and I feel like there have been so many secrets and hidden truths. I’m not sure that’s a foundation any relationship can be built on.”

“But…”

“I know,” he repeats. “Can we just focus on Finn for now?”

I nod. It’s not what I want to hear, but it’s the most mature thing to do. It also gives me a slight sense of shame that he’s the one suggesting it and not me.

Chapter 25

Even though things feel weird between us, Ethan and I agree to start our casual visitation thing this afternoon. He joins me at the house while we wait for Finn to get home from school. He even stopped at the store before he arrived so he could pick up a few snack supplies—celery, peanut butter, raisins, and some flavored water to drink. I’m relieved he’s in line with my attempts to keep Finn healthy. Or maybe he’s paid attention to what I do for Finn. Either way, I’m impressed.

Finn gets home and is thrilled to see Ethan there. He immediately wants to show Ethan the additions to the racetrack in his room, but Ethan puts on the brakes.

“I’ll see it in a bit,” he says, “after your homework is done.”

Finn looks to me, his expression twisted with confusion.

“You know the rules,” I say, though I feel for the kid. Ethan is supposed to be Mommy’s fun friend, not the rules guy. This is probably messing with Finn’s world. Still, he sits at the table and pulls out his homework with a sigh while Ethan starts making his snack.

“Mom, can you help me with the word problems?” Finn drapes himself over the homework sheet, and I start to go toward him.

“Math?” Ethan asks. “That’s my specialty. What you got, Dude?” He places the snack plate on the table then takes the chair next to Finn.

I want to stick around for all of this, and I feel a little lost in what my role should be. But I know I’ll just be in the way of what these visits are for, so I excuse myself and leave the room. The Romance Lovers Book Expo is this weekend anyway, and I still have a few things left to do before I send the swag packages to Cass, the event coordinator. I usually send items directly to the authors, but thanks to Cass’s immense generosity to the authors, this works out best for all of us. She’ll make sure they’re there at each author’s table, and the authors will have one less thing to lug to San Francisco.

Really, I just have to add a few personal touches to the boxes before sealing them. I always include Chapstick with my logo on it, because who doesn’t need a good tube of Chapstick? I also add some sweets and a handwritten thank you card. Once the boxes are complete, I seal them with pink and black personalized tape that says “Bookish Magic” in large letters and “Cast by Claire Myers” in a smaller font below that.

All the while, I’m listening in on Finn and Ethan’s conversation in the other room. At first, it’s just Ethan showing Finn a trick on how to solve the word problem, and I tune in and out on what they’re saying. But I hear Finn mention Brie’s name, and I pause what I’m doing to hear the full conversation.

“Do you like her as a friend?” Ethan asks, “Or do you like-like her?”

I purse my lips, hating the direction of this conversation. Isn’t six a little young to be thinking about like-liking someone?

“I like-like her,” Finn says. “But she doesn’t like me like that at all. She likes Ollie because he’s more popular than me.”

“How so?”

“Well, his mom packs him cool lunches with chip bags and cookies.”

“And your mom doesn’t, huh,” Ethan muses.

I roll my eyes. I’m not about to resort to crap food so that my kid will feel popular.

“No, she makes all the food herself instead of buying it at the store.”

“How mean of her,” Ethan laughs, and I hear Finn giggle. “What else?”

“Ollie is better at kickball, and he’s always chosen first, and he walks home from school instead of taking the baby bus.”

“Those are okay reasons to be popular, but I’m not convinced that’s why a girl would go for a guy.”

“What do you mean?” Finn asks.

At this point, I’ve abandoned my work. It’s done anyway, but I’m not about to leave the room and stop this conversation.

“Having good lunches or being great at sports can be cool and all, but girls want more than that. They want someone who’s nice to them. They like to feel special when they’re with him.”

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