Page 67 of The Longshot

“And it’s funny that you say that too, Sarah.” Simon folds his arms in front of his chest, a thoughtful look in his eyes. “It seems as if Chelsie’s doing a lot of things differently nowadays,” he remarks with a cocky smirk. “Aren’t you, darling?”

I tighten my lips, glaring at him in disgust.

What kind of game is he trying to play?

“Simon?!” Dad beats me to a response as he joins us in the entryway. “Is that you?”

“Mark!” Simon is quick to shake my dad’s hand before he, too, is pulled into a tender hug. Dad has always been a hugger. “How’s it going?”

“It’s going great, mate.” Dad nods with enthusiasm. “How are you? How’s school been?”

“Oh, you know, super busy,” Simon responds with a sigh. “You’ve been busy with things as well, too, haven’t you, Chelsie?” He stares down at me. “Lots of new things going on in your world, am I right?”

My throat goes dry as his remark piques my parent's interest, the two now seeking clarity in my face. “Yeah,” I lie, though it is partly the truth. “Things have been super busy. A little chaotic even.” I subtly scowl at Simon as I pull on the word.

“That’s our girl.” Dad takes no notice as he pulls me into his side, and plants a kiss onto my cheek. “Quite the brain on our Chelsie, so much so that half the time we don’t even know what’s going on.”

Simon scoffs, clutching his stomach in a laugh. “Oh, you’ve both got no idea.”

Mum and Dad join him in amusement, blinded to Simon's inadvertent jab—one I’m quick to retaliate with by saying, “Now that we’ve bypassed these hello’s, would anyone care to explain what the hell he’s doing here?”

My abrupt question is enough to make Mum and Dad’s face shift from innocent to guilty in a matter of seconds. It’s a transformation that breaks my heart.

“Well…” Mum's first to lighten the blow as she swallows deeply. “Your dad and I thought that we’d invite Simon around so that you two could talk. Reconcile.”

I shake my head with absolution. “I can’t believe this.” I grit my teeth so hard it almost pains me to do it. “You both know that we’re not together anymore.”

Mum and Dad both look back at each other, a wince in their eyes before Dad attempts to lighten this low blow. “But what about the vow renewal?” he asks. “You’re seriously not going to bring Simon as your date?”

I’m left stumbling hand over foot when it comes to what to say back to that. I’ll confess, it hurts me to see my parents hurt, confused, but at the same time it pains me even more to look in the eyes of a guilty man who paints himself innocent. This is a mess. Simon is a nightmare. I need to wake up.

“Oh, did Chelsie not tell you guys?” Simon inserts himself into the conversation, causing my parents head to shift on a swivel. “Chelsie’s got a new boyfriend now.”

Mum and Dad’s eyes both grow wide.

“A new boyfriend?” Mum’s voice inflates with surprise. “What? Since when?”

“Yeah, Chelsie, do tell us, since when?” Simon antagonizes me. “How long has it been? You know, considering we only just broke up...”

“I… uh…” I start to stutter, but can’t seem to find the words to carry out anything more than this sputtering mess.

“How come you didn’t tell us?” Mum continues to pester me with questions, whereas Dad, although he remains silent, doesn't hold back when it comes to the disapproving look in his eyes.

I hate it.

“Really, Chelsie?” Dad eventually remarks. “A new boyfriend? How on Earth could you find someone better than our Simon?”

I internally groan. “Our Simon.” Little does my father know just how much he’s feeding into Simon's already massive ego with that claim.

“Awh, thanks, Mark. You’re too kind. Though I will admit, the news took me by surprise, too. I'm just hoping she wasn’t seeing this guy while we were still together. If you know what I mean…”

“Chelsie,” my mom gasps. “You wouldn’t do that to Simon. Would you?”

I can feel the onset of whiplash as I look back and forth between everyone rhyming off complete and utter nonsense.

I know what Simon is trying to do. He’s trying to butter my parents up, so that they guilt trip me into getting back together with him. I know him. I know just how manipulative he can be.

“I’m not getting into this right now.” I take slow steps toward the coat rack, reaching for my purse. “In fact, I think it’s about time for me to get going.”

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