Page 31 of Fake Dating Adrian Hunter
“She studied education at college with Phoebe. My sister brought her home one Christmas and the rest is history.”
“How did you two end up living in the UK?”
“She got a teaching job in London and I followed her there.”
I shove his arm. “This is so unfair. How come no one ever hasslesyouabout moving away from Sitka? At least I still live in the country.”
“Maybe because I go home for Christmas every year and haven’t forgotten where my roots stem from,” he says, losing all humor in his voice. “You’ve cut all ties, Verena.”
I let out a loud huff. “Here we go. If it isn’t obvious, my childhood is something I want to forget. You have no concept of how difficult this week is for me.”
“Poor little Verena. Let’s hear your sad story. Educate me on all of your struggles.”
“You are such a dick, Adrian.” I step back from the railing, ready to storm off, but he grabs my wrist and spins me to face him. It’s the most serious I’ve ever seen him look.
“I won’t understand unless you tell me.”
I rip my arm out from his grip, and with it, all the pent-up emotions that spilled from me in the restroom return. “It’s the way everyone in this community treats me. It’s the way they’vealwaystreated me. I’m the laughingstock and I hate it. It’s seeingyouagain, Adrian. I’m never good enough for you. You were my whole world and then you abandoned me!”
I silence myself before I can let any more truths slip out of my mouth, horrified that I already let this much escape and showed Adrian a vulnerable side of me. I’m not sure why I’m so bothered by our past when I moved on from it long ago. At least, I thought I’d moved on from it.
Adrian doesn’t say anything either. The night is suddenly dead silent aside from the sounds of my uneven breathing and the ocean. The two of us are staring at each other with our thoughts running a million miles per hour. There’s nothing defensive in his expression, though. He’s not out for blood. I can see within his eyes that he’s not creating a snarky response.
Finally, he swallows hard. “I’m sorry.”
It’s the last thing I expect to hear him say. I’m so taken by surprise that I end up shrugging his apology off by saying, “It’s in the past,” which he can see is clearly not true after my outburst just now.
“I don’t think anyone knows how to act around you. People get scared of shiny, pretty things.”
Again, he says something unexpected. And did Adrian call me pretty? I have to remind myself how to breathe. I repeat his words in my mind to check for their meaning and that he’s not secretly insulting me.
“What’syourissue with shiny, pretty things?” I ask.
He smiles. “I don’t have an issue with them. I like them very much.”
Somehow, I ease into a smile too, with my heart thumping rapidly in my chest. This moment is the most real Adrian and I have been with each other since we were children. No scheming or insults. I can see it again—that rare but genuine look in his eyes and smile. My favorite one.
I have the urge to throw my arms around Adrian’s neck and tell him how much I miss him, or at the very least, ask if we can attempt to be friends again, but my sister comes into view, calling out to us from the restaurant and breaking our moment.
“Hey, you two.” Tory cups both hands around her mouth. “We’re going back to Mom and Dad’s bungalow to play a board game.”
“All right, see you later,” I call back, desperate for her to leave so I can keep this moment between me and Adrian alive.
“Nuh-uh, the happy couple are coming with us.”
ChapterTwelve
Mom and Dad’s bungalow is beautiful, but it doesn’t have a pool or beachfront view like mine. The eight of us are sitting on couches in their garden as Dad sets up the board game on a coffee table in front of us. On one side of the table, it’s me and Adrian. Across from us are the two brides, Mom and Dad on our left, and Cece and George to the right.
“Everyone in pairs?” Dad asks.
“Siblings against siblings?” I suggest.
“As if,” Tory says. “Couples against couples.”
“Stuck with me again,” Adrian laughs under his breath.
I’m not sure how to respond to him after our chat right before coming here. Nor am I sure how to behave. Did we have a breakthrough and are now being civil to each other?
