Page 30 of Caught in a Bad Fauxmance
I’m not sure what to say—whether I should console him or smack him for forcing me into another round of Seo-Cooke Dinner Theater.
Unfortunately, I don’t have to say anything, because Dad is walking straight toward us.
“Hiking, huh?” Dad says, completely perplexed.
If Julian wasn’t holding me up, I’d definitely be on the ground.
Dad’s eyes are laser focused on where Julian’s arm rests around my waist. “I didn’t know you two had gotten so close.”
“We, uh…” I pause to wriggle my way out of Julian’s hold. Why didn’t Maya and I think of an emergency signal before we left the house? “We just—”
“Is there a problem here, Tony?” Mr. Cooke interrupts as he saunters over to our tense circle.
Sweet merciful Lord, this is a motherfucking nightmare.
Dad chuckles awkwardly. “No, no, just a little confused. I wasn’t aware that Devin and Julian were um…” He trails off, looking uncomfortably bashful. “Seeing each other.”
“Can’t say I saw it coming either,” Mr. Cooke replies with a chuckle of his own. “I guess this is what happens when we don’t keep a closer eye on our kids.”
Dad flips like a switch, his eyes darkening and fingers clenching into fists. Mr. Cooke starts to walk away before Dad can respond to the taunt.
“Julian, let’s go,” Mr. Cooke orders. Julian turns to me, lips parted as though he’s going to say something, when his dad adds “Now!” with enough force to startle all of us.
We watch Julian trail behind his dad, leaving me to pick up the pieces.
Old Bob cackles so hard it sends him into a coughing fit. “Well ain’t that the plot twist of the century!”
My throat feels painfully dry, and if someone doesn’t saysomething soon, my heart might beat out of my chest. I’d welcome it at this point; at least then I wouldn’t have to explain myself.
Before I can think of something to say that isn’t an incoherent plea for forgiveness, Andy and Isabel come along bearing Allegheny Park–branded popsicles.
“Hey!” Andy rushes up to me, pouting like a grounded toddler. “How come you get to date one of the neighbors? You said they were off-limits!”
Dad looks as though he’s going to pass out at any second, a feeling I can very much relate to. “Let’s discuss this at home.”
Yes, please, anywhere but in front of half the town.
We’re headed toward the path when a scream stops us in our tracks.
“Those assholes!” Maya storms toward us, her Dutch braids coming undone and dripping with what looks like muddy water.
Isabel goes into mother hen mode, cradling Maya’s cheeks and checking for cuts or bruises. “Are you okay? Did you hit anything?”
“I’m fine,” she mumbles bitterly, sliding out of Isabel’s grip to undo her braids and wring out her curls. “Some guy came up to me and offered me a soda, but I should’ve freakin’ known better.” She turns around with narrowed eyes, glaring somewhere beyond the trees. Even dozens of feet away, I can still make out the shape of Henry Seo-Cooke. Maya was right—he is impossible to miss. Like a mountain troll.
“Did soda explode on you?” Andy asks, scratching his head.
“No, it shot glitter at me,” she replies sarcastically.
Well, Henry was bound to retaliate for the bush incident at some point.
“Let’s go,” Dad insists, rubbing his temples as he leads the charge back toward home. “We’ve been here long enough.”
Isabel rushes to his side, whispering something to him about being dramatic, while Andy hands Maya his second Allegheny popsicle in solidarity.
“Did I miss something?” Maya asks as she falls into step beside me, shaking herself off like a wet dog.
I heave a sigh, squeezing my eyes shut and preparing for the lashing she’s about to give me. “Dad knows about me and Julian.”
