Page 44 of The Faking Game

“The house is stunning,” Nora says. I think it’s the third time. “West told me that you oversaw the last round of renovations?”

Mom’s smile is genuine. “I did, yes! About a decade or so ago. A house of this size, it takes a lot of work. The windows had to be completely refitted—and all according to code.”

I haven’t told Nora that. She must have read up about Fairhaven.

“Well, it turned out beautiful,” Nora says. She’s wearing that smile again, the pretty, placid one.

I cut into my steak harder than necessary.

“So, tell me,” Mom says. “When did you two start dating? You’ve known each other for years, surely.”

That’s what she’s here for. Why she ambushed me with this lovely, cozy family dinner that we never have. To find out just how serious this is.

Nora’s eyes shift to mine, and she smiles a little. “Well, it’s pretty recent.”

“Not that recent on my end,” I say. “I wanted to ask you out for a long time.”

Her eyes widen. “You did?”

“Yes. But being my best friend’s little sister, well… It wasn’t easy.” I look at Nora for another long moment before turning my gaze to my mother. “We connected this past winter, when I was at Rafe’s chalet in Switzerland.”

“Yes,” Nora says. “That’s right. I didn’t even know he would be there!”

My sister looks between the two of us. Her eyes, so similar to mine, are long-lashed and glittering with too much fun. “I have to ask you something,” she says. “I’ve never really met one of West’s girlfriends. Well, not the ones past high school, anyway.”

I shoot her a warning glare.

She doesn’t look at me.

“Of course,” Nora says. “What do you want to know?”

“IthinkI know West pretty well,” my sister says. “He hates when people are late, he thinks he’s always the smartest person in the room, and he has a pathological need to win at everything. That part’s exhausting. The one thing he’snotis sentimental.” Her smile widens. She’s doing this on purpose, to make my life harder. “Tell me. What’s he like as a boyfriend? Do you get flowers, presents? Does he take you out on fancy dates?”

Not helping, I think. But by the glittering of her eyes, she’s not trying to. She’s having fun.

I look at Nora, like the rest do. But I bet they don’t catch the calculated little tilt of her head or how she laughs softly, as if Amber has said something brilliant.

She’s thinking about the right thing to say. Buying time.

“He does. He might not seem romantic, but he has his moments. In fact…” she draws out the syllable, and even my mother leans forward a little, as if she can’t wait to hear the rest. “Last night he surprised me by taking me to see a new movie. A sequel to one of his all-time favorites.”

I reach for my wineglass.One of my favorites,indeed. She’s trolling me while still playing her part.

“West went to the movies?” Amber asks.

“I am capable of doing things other than working,dearestsister.”

“Sailing and traveling,” she says. “That’s it. What movie was it?”

Nora smiles. “Hot Pursuit II.”

My aunt and uncle laugh. Amber grins, and even my mom looks at me with raised eyebrows. The buddy-cop franchise is aggressively mediocre. I don’t think anyone has ever described it as one of their all-time favorites.

Nora is blinking at me with those long lashes, a soft smile on her lips. Like I’m her favorite person in the world. Like this is all real and true and not a beautiful lie.

“I knew you would enjoy it,” I tell her and turn to the others. “You’d think Nora loves luxury, but she loves a bit of normalcy.”

“You know her so well,” Amber says. “What’s your favorite thing about her?”

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