Page 38 of Fake Engaged to the Enemy

There’s a duffle bag sitting just under the foot of the bed.

“What are you doing here?” I ask my half-sister—my replacement. My tone speaks volumes.

Katherina winces as she shoves her light hair from her face. “The same thing you’re doing here.Mom.”

Despite myself, concern rushes through me. “Did Mom drop you off here?”

“Nope, I took the bus. She wouldn’t even know I was gone except Grandma called her.” Katherina folds her arms and gives me the sort of look only a sixteen-year-old girl can. “I couldn’t stand being there with her anymore. Not until Crimson kicks her to the curb.”

I rub my forehead. “Is Mom coming to get her?” I ask Grandma.

“I won’t go if she does.”

Grandma shakes her head. “June’s decided to give it a few days to let everyone cool down—”

“What’s that?” Katherina pointed at my hand—specifically my left. Her jaw drops. “Are you engaged?”

Heat floods my cheeks.

Oh, shoot!

This has just gotten far more complicated.

Telling Grandma the truth is one thing.

The half-sister I barely know?

Nope, she’s got to have the full lie.

Only… how are George and I going to pull this off?

“Uh, yeah,” I stammer. “I’m engaged. George. You know George? Well, George and I were having dinner, and he hid the ring in, uh, one of the dishes.”

“You two go downstairs and let me make up this bed,” Grandma says, waving us off.

I grab the sheets. The last thing I want is to talk with Katherina right now. “I’ll make up the bed. You go sit down?”

Katherina looked between us. A knowing expression crosses her face, followed by disappointment.

Disappointment I know too well.

She knows that I don’t want her here.

“I invited George to supper,” I say quickly. “But with Katherina here, I’m not sure we’re going to have enough. Let me finishtaking care of things here, Grandma, then I’ll get going on supper. You look like you’ve been working hard.”

“Fine, fine.” Grandma gives me a hard look. “Kitty, you stay and help your sister, okay?”

We both wince at being referred to as sisters.

The tension doesn’t ease when Grandma leaves.

“Right. Well.” I let out a heavy sigh. “How’s school going?”

Katherina shrugs. “Fine.”

And that was all we had to say to one another.

Perfect.

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