Page 9 of Fake Dating Adrian Hunter
ChapterFour
The restaurant is crowded with wedding guests when I arrive at the welcome dinner. I’m a little late, but in my defense, every moment of my afternoon was utilized wisely. After I finished telling Darius and Zac about my history with Adrian, Darius and I spent an hour on FaceTime deciding what dress I should wear tonight while Zac left in search for Penny. I changed outfits multiple times, indecisive of whether I should choose a black dress or blue. In the end, Darius convinced me to settle for a red one I designed—a short and playful number that hugs my chest and flares out like a wildflower, dancing above my knees. Couture at its finest.
Then, on my way to the dinner, I had to make a detour to the lobby to organize a bungalow for Zac and Penny. I didn’t bother informing staff about Darius’ arrival. He can share my bungalow, considering we’ll be playing up this romantic tension the world believes we have.
The welcome dinner is at the resort’s cliffside restaurant with an ocean view I’m certain would be stunning during daylight hours. Torches light the venue, flickering in the wind and offering a dim glow on everyone’s skin, which I’m grateful for since it hides my frizzy hair. Thanks, Australian humidity.
The most awkward part of arriving at dinner is finding people to socialize with. All the wedding guests are scattered throughout the restaurant, standing in small groups with a champagne in their hand and chatting away busily. People do stop and stare at me, but it’s not in anoh, look, a celebrity!kind of way. There’s judgment in their eyes.
My two bodyguards are hanging out on the perimeter of the event, sharing a meal, and looking casual for once. Is it pathetic that I’m considering hiding out with them?
It totally is. I need to put on my big-girl pants and face the guests.
I did the awkward meet and greet with my family earlier in the day, so when Mom places a sloppy kiss on my cheek, it’s not quite so uncomfortable as the first time. Now I can say,Hey, how have you been since our last catch up five hours ago in your bungalow?instead of,Hey, how have you been since our last catch up five years ago?
Mom pulls me over to the table where my four aunts sit, and my cheeks get attacked by four more wet kisses. I’ve decided it’s an old person thing. Maybe an Italian thing too. They don’t know how to kiss without ruining other people’s makeup.
My mom and her sisters all look the same: short and stocky with rich skin and dark bob cuts. Each one of them have purple circles under their eyes like someone punched them. Love that for me, a clear-cut image of what genetics has in store. My goal in life is to defy aging. Seriously, I’m praying cosmetic surgery will keep me young forever.
“Honey, you look lovely.” Mom rubs the fabric of my dress between her fingers. “Did you design this outfit?”
“I sure did. You like?”
“Ilove.” She smiles at my aunts. “Isn’t my daughter talented?”
Aunt Maria squeezes my hand. “We can’t wait to see the wedding dresses.”
“You know, Verena,” Aunt Mary-Rose says, “we watch every episode of your show. It’s the best part of our week.”
Okay, this interaction with my family isn’t so bad. Things are actually going well. Mom and her sisters are being nice.Reallynice.
I smile back at my aunts, shocked. “You all watch my show?”
“Of course we do,” Aunt Mary-Rose tells me.
“I didn’t think a reality show about fashion would be your kind of thing, but I’m glad you enjoy it.”
“Are you kidding?” Aunt Rose-Mary says. Yes, my grandparents thought it was a good idea to call one of their daughters Rose-Mary and the other Mary-Rose. “The fashion part is great and watching you and Darius together is hilarious. I always knew you would make it big in this world. You have too much personality not to.”
I can’t tell if she’s teasing me, but I’ll take her words as a compliment. They’re the truth, anyway. Sure, my designs earned attention based off pure talent while I attended fashion school in Milan, but talent isn’t always enough. My opportunities for success stemmed from my charisma, having a quirky flare, and using those traits to form friendships with people in high places. Those contacts then set me up with the right connections in New York. My label received a ton of publicity and blew up in no time. Before I knew it, I’d landed my own reality show.
“So, have you seen Adrian yet?” Mom asks me, then winks at her sisters. “These two go way back.”
“Yes, Mom,” I drone, knowing where this conversation is heading. Even after all the hurtful encounters between me and Adrian, she’s still set on me marrying the guy.
“Isn’t he a looker?”
“Why don’tyoudate him, then?”
They all laugh. Mom wraps an arm around my shoulder, pulling me to her. “Do you all hear the things that come out of this one’s mouth? You haven’t changed a bit, sweetheart. Verena was always my problem child. Never had an issue with Victoria, but there wasn’t a single week that went by where I wasn’t called up to their school because of something Verena did.” She rattles it off, like my aunts are only hearing this for the first time.
Aunt Gloria rubs my arm, laughing as she adds to Mom’s comment. “Do you remember when the school called for the fire department because Verena climbed so high up a tree that she couldn’t get down?”
The five of them throw their heads back with laughter, drowning out my explanation that I was trying to save a cat.
Mom wipes tears from her eyes. “The whole school was watching and could see up her dress.”
Aunt Maria slaps her knee. “Someone even took a video of it, and the recording went viral. The camera was zoomed right in and showed your underwear wedged up your butt.”
