Page 2 of Fake Dating Adrian Hunter
“So? They watch me on TV.”
If anyone’s the slightest bit interested in me, it will be so they can find out the dirt on my life and bring gossip to their friends back home. Tory, on the other hand, is Little Miss Perfect in every aspect of life. I don’t hold it against her, but there’s no denying she’s the golden child. The one that makes sensible decisions. My parents have never been prouder than when she announced her acceptance into medical school (in their words, a “sensible” career choice), or the day she got engaged to her high school girlfriend—who just so happens to be the daughter of my parents’ closest friends. Aside from college, she’s never moved away from Sitka and plans to grow old there with her soon-to-be-wife and the perfect children they’ll have one day. All the women in our family are dark-haired Mediterranean beauties, but Tory has inherited superior genes, replicating a Botticelli painting.
“I’m not going to steal your thunder,” I say as we lie on a daybed, its sheer curtains flapping in the wind. I’m so exhausted from the transit I could fall asleep right here. Now there’s a thought—sleep through every unnecessary moment of these next seven days. “I’m more than happy to sink into the background. No one will even notice me.”
“You’re beginning to sound like Adrian.”
Mention of his name sends me stiff. “Don’t compare me to him.”
Tory smiles. “You’re still hung up on him?”
I scoff and gaze out at the ocean. “The guy told everyone in high school that my middle name is Vagina. It’s clearly Virginia, for fuck's sake.”
“I forgot about that. You have to admit, in hindsight, it’s kind of funny.”
“Yeah, well, how about you walk around for a year with everyone calling youVerena the Vaginaand see how you like it?”
“Hey, you gave it back to him just as bad. I remember that time you swapped the clothes in his gym locker for a dress.”
“That was payback and hardly equal,” I say. “If anything, it made all the girls love Adrian more, seeing him walk half-naked through school to find clothes. What’s his issue now? Doesn’t sound like Adrian to be sinking into the background. He’s probably annoyed this week isn’t about him. I bet you it’s a tactic to earn sympathy and make everyone cater to his every need.”
“Jeez, listen to you. Haven’t enough years passed for you to move on from your falling out?”
I scowl at her, because enough years can never pass when the love of your life breaks your heart.
And gross… I can’t believe I just referred to Adrian like that.
“If you must know the issue,” Tory says, “Phoebe asked Adrian to be the MC, and he said no.”
“Seems kind of rude. I’m glad, though. Saves me from having to look at his face.”
“Don’t start. You said you would behave yourself around him.”
“Relax,” I tell her. “I don’t even plan on speaking with him.”
“You know, there was a time when you two were best friends.”
“Tory, there was a time when I was inlovewith the guy. Don’t remind me of how pathetic I used to be.”
She gasps, sitting up tall. “You were inlovewith him?”
“Come on, you had to have known that.”
“I thought there may have been a crush involved. Remind me again why you hated each other so much?”
“Hate.”
“What?”
“You used past tense. I still hate him. And I’m not discussing this with you any longer.”
Tory’s phone rings. Perfect timing. “It’s the bride. I should go,” she chimes, then wraps me in a tight hug. “It’s so good to see you again. We need to spend lots of time together this week.”
“Definitely.”
Her arms are warm around me, and I realize Ihavemissed this. Us as sisters. We FaceTime occasionally but I can’t remember the last time I saw Tory in person. To be honest, I’m surprised she asked me to be her maid of honor. We were close as kids but have slowly drifted apart over the years.
Tory hops off the daybed with her phone still ringing in her hand. “Verena, I’ll give you some time to get settled in. Make sure you’re not late for the welcome dinner tonight. Oh! I almost forgot.” She pulls a folded piece of paper from her pocket and hands it to me. “Here’s this week’s schedule. See you tonight.”
