Page 103 of Fake It 'til You Make It

But I’ve lost my voice entirely. My legs feel weak and I’m cold. So cold.

‘What have you got to say for yourself, hotshot?’ Andrew yells at me.

I’m mute.

‘Andrew, that’s enough,’ Terry says, shifting closer to Abbey.

‘Terry, he’s engaged to be married.’ Andrew picks up the magazine and slams it back down on the table. ‘Read it. He talks about how much he and his fiancée can’t wait for their wedding. Can you hear me, Abbey? Can you understand what I’m saying?’ He repeatedly pokes his fingers against his head, like she’s stupid.

With his actions, I find my backbone. ‘Your problem is with me, Andrew. And I swear to everything mighty, if you speak to her like that again, I’m going to give you a real problem.’

48

ABBEY

Mike’s voice is low, ominous. I haven’t heard him like this before.

But to me, he says quietly, ‘Abbey, that interview was done when?—’

‘When you were already in New York, I remember.’ Finally, my words come as I speak only to… Who am I speaking to? ‘Theodore? Ted? Your brother?’

‘Yes. And yes, but I couldn’t say anything else. The world doesn’t know I’m not with Fleur yet. You know all this; you just think she was engaged to Mike, not me.’ He’s pleading with me and I understand the logic but right now, it’s making me look like even more of an idiot than I already do. He’s not Michael Thomas. He isn’t a baseball player. The only thing he’s played is…me.

‘You’re a piece of shit,’ Andrew gripes at Ted.

‘Andrew—’ My dad goes to speak again but I find some strength from somewhere I’ve never explored and put a hand to his chest, silencing him, in order that I can have my voice heard.

‘This is my mom and dad’s day, Andrew. This is the moment you’ve chosen to get your revenge. Like this? Will you stop atnothing to humiliate me? Ruin their day in the process?’ I slam my napkin down on the table. ‘Anything you have to say to me can be said outside. But I want everyone to hear this… I know what Mike isn’t. He isn’t the only person being fake here and it’s about time I owned the truth, too.’

I look to my mom and dad apologetically, then to my sister, who looks genuinely sad. And I tell everyone, ‘Ted isn’t my boyfriend.’ I look his way. He’s nothing to me, in fact. I don’t even know him. ‘I asked him to come here with me and pretend to be my boyfriend.’

Andrew’s face contorts, first with confusion, then hilarity. He’s mocking me.

‘You don’t have to do this, Abbey,’ Ted tells me gently.

‘Yes, I do. This part is on me. Do you know what the irony is, Andrew? I did all this to save face with you. After your throwing other women in my face in New York, I couldn’t bear to come here and see you with someone else. I couldn’t stand the thought of our families and friends trying to get us back together and you rejecting me.’

In my peripheral vision, I see Ted sit into his seat and hang his head.

‘So you brought a fake date to your mom and dad’s vow renewals and pretended he’s a professional ball player? Abbey, you’re crazy.’

I feel my nostrils flare with anger. ‘If I’m crazy, Andrew, it’s because of you. Everyone thinks you’re this great guy and God knows why but you had me fooled for long enough, too.’

‘Now you wait a minute, young lady,’ Andrew’s mom says, rising to her feet. ‘It’s you who’s making a fool of my son, bringing someone up here to make him jealous. Faking a relationship. It’s vicious.’

What I want to say to this woman is:Oh shut up, Victoria.

What I actually say to her is: ‘Oh shut up, Victoria.’

God knows I should have said that a long time ago.

‘Don’t you speak to me like that, you little vixen,’ she jibes back. ‘My son hasn’t done a thing wrong except call you out on your lies.’

Shernette springs up from her seat. ‘Oh no, I’m not listening to this crap. Abbey, I love you and I respect why you’ve kept it secret but it’s time, babe. It’s time to tell everyone what a dirty, rotten liar this fool is.’

‘Shernette, don’t I look ridiculous enough? Please.’

Ted is shaking his head, his hands locked together, his knuckles white.

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