Page 13 of The Guy Who Fake Dated Me

“We need to change the date.”

Good thing I hadn’t put the nut into my mouth, because I would have choked on it. My jaw hung open, and I blinked a couple of times. “I’m sorry, did you say change the date?” The party was on their actual anniversary. My mom had insisted. I’d scheduled everything else around it.

“Yes. To the weekend after Thanksgiving. It’s the only time she can be here.” Her blue eyes drilled into mine. The corners of her mouth tightened, and her brows dropped.

Both Mom and Crystal were used to getting what they wanted. They knew how to play any system and loved the taste of victory. This next bit wasn’t going to be easy. I steeled myself, sent a pleading look for backup to my dad, and said, “Mom, we can’t change the date.”

“Why not?”

“Because the weekend you want is booked for Mr. Wall’s birthday.” I held up a finger. “You know the guy who pulled your car out of that sink hole when we had all that flooding a few years ago?”

That took a bit of the wind out of my mom’s sails.

“Aunt Angela knew when the party was when she scheduled her trip,” Crystal said. “She needs to embrace the consequences of her actions.”

I blinked. Crystal was the last person who should be saying anyone needed to face the consequences of their actions, considering she suffered from a lack of it herself.

My phone buzzed, and I glanced at the screen.

Victoria:Ever have your family drop a bombshell on you?

To my surprise, my dad spoke up. “Angela and Harold really want to come. He hasn’t been back here in ages, and they practically cried about it over the phone.”

My dad rarely asked for anything, apart from peace and quiet when Mom and Crystal got too manic, and I felt bad for my answer, but my aunt and uncle’s desire didn’t change it.

My mom said something to my dad, but I took a second to inwardly roll my eyes and answer Victoria.

Logan:As a matter of fact, I’m in the middle of the fallout from one right now. What’s up?

“Well?” my mom said.

I’d missed her original comment, but I only had one answer for them. “Sorry, every weekend?and most weekdays?are booked through January.”

It was almost like everyone in Big Bear had been waiting for the grand opening of a new, slightly fancier restaurant before they planned their events. Not only did we have birthdays, anniversaries, family reunions, class reunions, club gatherings, and sports team banquets planned from Big Bear, but I also had events from five of the closest towns.

In retrospect, I should have built out two rooms instead of just one for the Magnificent Moose. Maybe I needed to look into buying the front half of the building and expanding.

The thought threatened to trigger a headache, so I shoved it away. Getting the Magnificent Moose off the ground had been hard enough; I needed to catch my breath before growing.

Victoria:I’m having drama over my cousin getting married.

Having drama? That didn’t sound good.

Logan:You okay?

Dad frowned. “You’re sure?”

“Who are you texting?” Crystal asked.

I ignored her and addressed my dad. “In order to change the date for your party I’d have to contact Mr. Wall, who likely wouldn’t want the night you have scheduled, so I’d have to call whoever had reservations for the day he did want and see if they were willing to trade. It would be a hassle, and eventually, we’d run into someone who we’ve already ordered food for, and since I’d have charged them for said food, they probably wouldn’t move their event, and the whole thing would fall apart.”

Victoria:No.

She wasn’t okay. I suddenly didn’t care about my parents’ party. All I wanted to do was focus on Victoria.

“You’re being overly dramatic,” Mom said.

The quickest way to get to Victoria would be to wrap this up. I clasped my hands together and set my forearms on the table. “The theater club wanted to switch their banquet, but after talking to eight—yes, eight—people, the last one couldn’t change their event, and in the end, no one moved their time.” I looked back and forth between my parents. “That’s how packed we are.”

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