Page 94 of Fake It 'til You Make It

‘Abbey, before this goes any further, I have to be honest with you?—’

‘You’re back, then.’ My mom swans out of the garage holding a bottle of wine in each of her hands and heading for the front door.

His words are quiet but I’m pretty sure when Mike buries his head against my ear, he mutters, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’

I could cry. I could literally cry with frustration. Sexualfrustration and terror, because what does he mean by ‘honest’? Was he about to tell me we’ve had the most amazing day and I’ve fallen even deeper for him than I was this morning but he’s still in love with Fleur and his big-shot lifestyle in San Francisco?

‘Hi Mom,’ I manage through gritted teeth.

‘You’ll need to get washed up; dinner is about ready and your sister and Shernette are starving after their travels.’ She heads inside, seemingly oblivious to, or not caring about, what she interrupted, calling back, ‘Airplane food has no sustenance.’

I can feel my eyes clouding over. This is ridiculous but I’m so wound up, and seeing my mom is bringing all the noise of reality back into my mind.

Mike will think I’m crazy if I cry over this. It is crazy. So, with a heavy sigh, I slip out from under him and start walking to the house.

For the first time today, it feels like there are hundreds of unspoken words hanging in the air.

44

ABBEY

In the lounge, Dad is laughing at something Dee has said, telling her she’s nuts.

Shernette leaps to her feet from the sofa and hugs me. Dee is next in line and whilst maybe not obvious to everyone, I can see that her tiny little baby is starting to grow beneath her clothes.

Somewhere in amongst it all, Mike has shifted from my side. ‘I’m going to grab a quick shower before dinner,’ he tells me.

I watch him go. So happy to see my sister and friend. Unnerved by what is to come between Mike and me. Bereft at the loss of and wishing we could go back to our day in the mountains.

Maybe this whole day was another of my awful ideas because if I was afraid before it, I’m terrified now.

‘Erm, we’re going to need to catch up aboutthat,’ Shernette teases, inclining her head in the direction Mike just went.

‘Yeah we are!’ Dee adds.

I can’t stop my skin from flushing pink, my fingertips caressing where Mike has kissed so often today, my lips stretching into a smile so wide it aches my cheeks.

I glance Dad’s way to find him rolling his eyes and shaking his head.

‘Terry, come and open the wine, would you?’ Mom calls from the dining room.

Dad pushes up out of his chair, his shirt unbuttoned by two, no jacket or tie, but his pants smart – his off-duty look. As he passes by Dee, Shernette and me, he leans in to my ear and tells me, ‘Any man who can put a smile like that on my daughter’s face is okay with me.’

Huh?

He likes him. Not that that’s astonishing. I know Mike’s great. But isn’t he Team Andrew with Mom?

This day is full of surprises.

‘So what have we missed?’ Dee asks.

‘Urgh, a seriously awful luncheon, attended by Victoria, who now vocally hates me, and Maisie!’

‘Ew, Maisie Daisy, spring shines out of her ass?’

‘The very same.’

‘What am I missing?’ Shernette asks, as she and Dee retake their seats.

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