Page 24 of How To Fake A Fiancé

I open my mouth to say more when I hear my phone ding again. “Hold on a second.”

Viewing the screen of my phone, I look at the caller ID. Speak of the devil.

I put my phone back against my ear. “Mom’s calling. We’ll talk about this later. Don’t do any more stupid crap until I call you back.”

“Don’t bother. Alex and I will be dancing the night away, so I won’t be able to hear my phone. T.T.Y.L!” she says before the call ends.

I let out a frustrated groan. Does she not understand the consequences of her actions? What does Mom think of all this? Is she happy, or is she freaking out? I hope for the latter.

I accept her call. “Hey, Mom.”

“Kamila,mija. I’ve called to tell you amazing news.” I hear the excitement in her voice.

“No need. Sofia beat you to it.” What the hell is wrong with my family?

“Isn’t it amazing? My baby is a newlywed. Next stop, grandbabies.”

I fight back the urge to gag. Her reaction is unsurprising yet incredibly disappointing.

She should be worried that her younger daughter could potentially be making the same mistakes she did, yet all she cares about are grandbabies?

My blood boils at the fact that she still hasn’t learned, much less has seen the damage she’s left in her wake.

“She’s still a teenager. Aren’t you the least bit concerned?”

“Your sister is an adult now. You should give her the benefit of the doubt.”

She may be over eighteen, but that doesn’t mean she’s an adult in every sense of the word.

Mom continues, “Come home for Thanksgiving and meet Alex. Sofia says he’s the sweetest. And while you’re at it, bring that boyfriend of yours you’ve been with for ages. It’s time I meet my future sons-in-law.”

Oh, shit.

Last summer, my mom had called for her semiannual interrogation where she asks me if I’m dating, engaged, or about to be engaged. And if any of the above applied, her next question was the name of this “lucky guy.”

Usually I tell her I’m single. Then the conversation would turn into a lecture from her about how I’m not getting any younger and that my eggs were dying. But this last time she called, something in me snapped. Before I knew what I was doing, I’d lied to her about being in a relationship. I kept the details short and said we’d just started going out. I just wanted her off my back. That conversation was six months ago.

Maybe I can still talk my way out of this. If I can avoid coming home for the holidays, like I have for years, then I’d be in the clear. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. We’ve been taking things slow.”

“All the more reason to bring him with you. See if he can keep up with our family.Mija,I know you’ve been with him for less than a year, but it’s time to start thinking about getting married.”

Unconsciously, in that moment, I turn to face Ian. His face is lit up with a knowing smirk. He heard all of that? Oh, god, this is giving him too much ammo.

I speak to her in Spanish. “Mom, I don’t know if he can make it. He’s got family, too.”

Mom continues in English. “It’s time you settled down with someone. If he isn’t it, dump him and bring someone more serious.” She clearly isn’t listening to me at this point.

“But—” I hear the phone cut off. Ugh, what is wrong with this family? Why am I the only adult out of the three of us?

“So, who’s the lucky boyfriend?” Ian asks.

“It’s none of your business.” I avoid his question.

“You’re right, it isn’t.” He changes the subject. “What’s the issue with your sister? Don’t you think you were being a bit harsh?”

I groan. “My sister isn’t mature enough to make her own decisions. This is a girl who just turned nineteen and has eloped with a twenty-three-year-old guy who she’s been with for less than a year, all the while having little to no regard for the consequences of her actions.”

The smirk is wiped clean from Ian’s face. “Oh, shit.”

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