Page 17 of Fake It for Christmas

The smallest flare of jealousy appeared inside me.

Frankie had always seemed like a wild-and-single-forever kind of guy. He was well into his thirties, and never had showed any signs of slowing down.

I was so happy for him, but… I knew that look on my mom’s face.

That look of pride, because she got to be happy for one of her siblings’ kids.

It was rare that I ever got any sort of look like that from her anymore.

“Abby is a lawyer now, and Frankie is engaged… I have so many wonderful nieces and nephews. You two are in good company, with your cousins.”

I cleared my throat, sitting up taller on the diner booth seat.

“I’m seeing someone, too,” I declared, the words coming out of me before I could push them back in.

I was met with three pairs of eyes in an instant.

Mariel, especially, was looking at me like I’d been keeping her out of the loop.

Oh, God.

“Seeing someone?” Mom said, unable to hide her excitement.

“Shane, you didn’t tell me?” Mariel added.

“Well, who’s the lucky guy?” Mom asked.

I would have been lying if I’d said I didn’t enjoy the sudden attention. I’d been hearing about my cousins’ accomplishments for my whole life, and I’d always felt just a bit lacking in comparison. Lawyers, doctors, engagements, kids—my mom was always so proud of them, when all I had to show for myself was more of the same old uneventful life.

But I also hated that it wasn’t the truth.

Rowen certainly wasn’t my boyfriend.

“He’ll be coming to the Christmas party,” I said.

“Well I hope I can meet him even sooner thanthat!” Mom said, the big smile returning to her face.

I almost hated this feeling. I knew I wasn’t telling her the truth, but foroneyear—one of our annual Christmas parties—I wanted to have someone by my side.

“You’ll meet him, you’ll meet him,” I said, cutting Mariel a specific glance after I said it.

I had a lot of explaining to do.

And a lot of begging to do, when I saw Rowen.

It was only a couple of hours later that I locked eyes with Rowen at the Farmer’s Market. My heart skipped a beat.

“Shit,” I said under my breath, ducking behind a rack full of tie-dyed skirts.

“What’s up?” Mariel asked me.

Nothing. I just saw my not-boyfriend and if he comes over here, Mom is definitely going to interrogate him.

What the hell is Rowen doing at a farmer’s market, anyway?

“I just—um—saw some things I really want to show you,” I told my sister, gently grabbing her arm and leading her through the crowd, a few stalls down.

We stopped in front of a homemade ceramics stand, and I hoped I was far enough away that Rowen wouldn’t come try to find me.

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