Page 50 of The Fun Part
Harper stares with dismay as her mom approaches. “Why does Shayla hate me?”
Aunt Claire hugs Shayla. They pull back, hands on each other’s arms as they talk animatedly.
“She’s not like a regular mom,” Olivia says to Harper. “She’s cool. She’s Claire Jordan.”
Harper sends Olivia a dark look. “And my personal clam jam.”
Olivia fights a smile, probably pleased her suggested phrasing caught on.
I’d like to judge Harper for not being chill about hanging with her very cool mom, but I know if my mom were here, it would officially kill the vibe. I can’t be next to Mom without the comparisons. I can never measure up to the beauty queen. That’s a fact.
Mom never stopped trying to instill the importance of being a classy lady into me. Sometimes I think she’s a throwback to the 1920s. For real. Dad says she used to insult him by calling him a cad. I had to look it up—a man who disregards others’ feelings. It really was a word thrown around in those black-and-white movies she loves. Turns out she’s a fan. So is Harper now. Are they meeting behind my back? They both have delusions of romance. I prefer comedies for my escape from reality.
“Family reunion at the club!” I crack up because it’s not my mom and brother.
Harper sends me a murderous look before throwing me under the bus as soon as Aunt Claire joins us. “Mackenzie’s seeing someone.”
“Shut. Up.” She knows about the fake dating, but she also knows I haven’t followed up with it because I’m not sure I can handle being so close to him without being close to him, and I mean that in every sense of the word—physically and emotionally.
Anyway, Aunt Claire will blab to Mom, and then I’ll have to pretend I’m into him some more when I’m trying so hard not tobe into him, and I can’t even blame Mom for this mess because she told me to keep my distance from the beginning.
“Ooh,” Aunt Claire says. “Who is it?”
“No one,” I say.
Harper continues, “Remember Cal, the baseball player slash lawyer from the Valentine’s Day dance?”
My cheeks heat. “It’s nothing. Nathan, you should get in touch with my aunt Mad to sell your house.”
“Sure,” Nathan says. “It’s not definite yet.”
“Go, Mackenzie,” Shayla says. “A ball player. What team?”
“Some minor league team,” I mumble.
“Triple A Iowa Cubs,” Nathan says.
“Right, I forgot.” I search desperately for another topic of conversation. “So what’s the name of your new production company, Shay?”
“They didn’t do much talking at all,” Harper says.
“I remember him,” Aunt Claire says. “He’s gorgeous. Broad shoulders—”
“Can we not talk about this?” I say at the same time as Harper says, “Mo-om!”
“What? I notice things,” Aunt Claire says.
“You should’ve invited him tonight!” Shayla says. “Let’s text him now.”
“Yeah, let’s,” Harper says.
“It’s girls’ night,” I say. “Another time.” I turn to Shayla. “Tell us all about your new production company. Do you have a name?”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you guys about,” Shayla says. “I want to name it in honor of you, Claire, a play off of your Red Jewel Films.” That’s Claire’s production company. “Something like Ruby Sisters Productions. Olivia will be my partner on it, and she’s become like a sister.”
Olivia bites her lower lip, her eyes watering. Wow, I’ve never seen her emotional before.
Aunt Claire puts a hand over her heart. “Oh, sweetheart, I’m honored and so proud of you!”
