Page 33 of How To Fake A Fiancé

Can’t wait for Thanksgiving! ;)

Ian

The toaster pops out two pieces of toast as I cook my mom scrambled eggs. The smell of breakfast cooking fills her tiny kitchen.

“That smells good, sweetie,” my mom hollers from the living room. Her morning talk show plays on the TV as she sits in her recliner.

“Thanks, Mom. Breakfast is almost ready,” I tell her.

I slide the eggs from the pan and onto a plate, then spread butter on one piece of toast and peanut butter on the other. Just how she likes it.

Breakfast in hand, I walk into the living room, clearing my throat. “I have an order for the best mom in the world.”

She laughs at my flattery. “Oh, please.”

I laugh as I set down the plate on a tray next to her. Once I do, I pull her morning pills from my pocket and set them beside her plate.

I sit down on the couch next to her recliner as she starts digging in. “How are you feeling today, Mom?”

She gives me a warm smile. “I’m fine, honey. Just like yesterday.”

“Yesterday was yesterday. How’s your energy? Have you had some water since you woke up?”

“I’m fine, Ian, I promise. I’m old, not helpless.” Her smile puts me at ease. “Aren’t you supposed to be getting the bar ready?”

“Yeah, but I figured I’d spend some time with you before then.” But that’s not the only reason I came to see Mom.

Since that phone call with Kami’s mom, I’ve been trying to figure out how to tell my mother I wouldn’t be with her and the family Thanksgiving weekend like every year before. That, rather, I was going to be in Abilene with a woman I’m trying to convince to go out with me. Damn, the more I think about it, the more I start to question my sanity.

Was it wrong to insert myself into Kami’s life the way I did? Maybe, but what choice did I have? Would she have hated me more if I told her mom the truth? Definitely. Either scenario, she’s mad at me. And she isn’t one to share her thoughts and feelings very easily.

Based on the information I’ve gathered, she doesn’t seem to be afraid of anything. In fact, she seems to take most of what life has to offer by the balls. Her avoidance of something more than a hookup however, makes me wonder if she’s afraid of love.

“Spend some time with me? Honey, for the past decade we’ve spent nothing but time together.” My emotions must be on my face because then she asks, “What’s on your mind?”

I take a deep breath. “Would you be okay if I wasn’t home for Thanksgiving?”

She gives me a knowing look. “Is this about the girl that yelled at you in the bar the other day?”

“You know about that?”

“She yelled loud enough for the whole bar to hear. Everybody knows.”

I look away sheepishly. “Yeah, it’s about her.”

“What’s her name?”

“Kami.” I smile at the sound of her name.

“What a pretty name. From the look on your face, I’d say you’re smitten with her.” She pauses. “What did you do to piss her off?”

How do I explain this? I spend the next few minutes telling her everything that’s transpired over the last forty-eight hours. “I know how it sounds—”

She lets out a hoarse laugh. “Son, you’ve got balls just like your daddy. No wonder she was pissed at you. For you to do all that for this one woman, you must be serious about her.”

“I am.”

“It seems you’ve already made up your mind about going, so why ask me anyway?”

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