Page 2 of My Fake Neighbor's Valentine

My mother pouts at me and I have to stop myself from wanting to roll my eyes all the way back into my skull.

“I get it. Get in the car before you get colder. Call me when you get to your apartment.”

“I’m stopping at the grocery store, so I’ll call you then. I don’t want you to wait until I get home to call you.”

She nods and opens the driver’s door for me. “Be careful.”

“I will.”

I get in the car just as Seth calls me.

“Your uncanny sense sometimes creeps me out.”

“Why? What did I do?”

“I’m about to drive out of my family’s driveway to get home.”

“I told you we are more connected than what you thought.” His chuckles stir something deep in my belly.

My mom knocks on my window. “Hold on Seth, don’t say something weird, please.”

I push the button for the window to roll down. “Focus on the road…” Mom pauses before gasping. “When were you going to tell me you have a boyfriend?”

I frown, not understanding what she means until I look at the screen on my car where basically everything I would need from it is. The word boyfriend with a heart in front and end of the word took most of the screen space. I forgot I change his contact number to than when I went out with work friends just in case someone got handsy or doesn’t know the meaning of the word no. I’ve only used it once and while I assure Seth he didn’t need to come, he still picked me up, The Willow Well Pub Bar, the newest bar in Maxwell.

I ignore her question. “Mom, I’m using the hands free feature of the car. I have buttons here on the steering wheel to hang up. I don’t need to touch my phone at all. Besides, I haven’t moved the car. Go inside before you catch a cold from being out here with me for too long. You gotta trust that you thought me well mamá.”

Mom glares at me but lets it go. “Don’t forget to call me and you got that contact name to explain to me. Don’t think because I let it go means I forgot it.”

“I won’t,” I say.

“Gosh, I miss you already.”

“You know where I live in Maxwell. You can come whenever you want to. For a day or a weekend. Just let me know ahead of time so I don’t pile my days with meetings or it doesn’t coincide with a work trip.” I see dad coming out through the front door. “Dad, take mom inside before she catches a cold. She’s been out here for too long and she doesn’t even have a jacket on.”

“Darling, come inside and let Grace get back to her busy life. I’m sure she will try to find another time to come and visit before the holidays roll back again.” Dad reaches us and grabs Mom by her shoulders, steering her around and away from my car.

I smile as my car window goes up. “You can talk now, Seth.”

“Sounds like your mom is reluctant to let you go.”

“She is always reluctant. Why did you call me?”

“I did groceries for you already. No need to stop anywhere. I’ll have dinner ready by the time you arrive and we have a guest.”

“You didn’t have to, but thank you. Who is at my apartment?”

“Your little sister.”

My smile stops midway, and I take a shaky breath. Why Maggie is at my apartment?

“I’ll see you both in three hours,” I say.

“I can’t wait,” Maggie yells from where she is at.

“I’ll text you,” He whispers in his raspy voice that stays in my ears keeping my anxiety at bay.

Two

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