Page 79 of The Fun Part
Mom beams. “Maybe we’ll be planning something for you two at Ludbury House soon.”
I frown. “Let’s not go there, Mom.”
“So you’re not serious?” Mom asks, blinking innocently.
I look over her shoulder. “Oh look, Aunt Charlotte is signaling you. I bet your friends have a special gift waiting for you.”
“That would be just like them!” Mom chirps and hurries off to meet up with her friends. Chances are they do have a special gift for her. It’s sort of their thing on big occasions.
“Can we step outside to talk?” Cal asks.
My brows draw together, nerves skittering through me. Cal has never asked to talk. Not once. “Sure.” I lead the way through the front hall to the door.
As soon as we step onto the front porch, Cal barks, “This fake relationship was a huge mistake! Your mom’s dropping hints about wedding planning. It’s not right to trick her.”
I grip my hands together. He can’t even think about the idea of being with me long-term without panicking. “She only dropped a hint because that’s her job. Letting people know she’ll plan their weddings. No need to panic.”
He starts pacing. “I don’t know whether I’m coming or going with you. It’s like we’re together, we’re pretending we’re together, then we’re just friends, then you’re bonding with myfamily. What is that? What are we doing?” He stops pacing and looks at me expectantly.
I cross my arms, hugging myself. “I-I don’t know. I just wanted to help you and Sutton any way I can, and…I don’t know.”
He pushes a hand through his hair, rumpling it. “I don’t know either.”
“Okay.”
We stare at each other for a long moment. My legs feel shaky, the awful point of no return approaching. I can feel it. I don’t know where we go from here. My heart races even as time slows down.
He takes a deep breath. “We need to stop seeing each other. Fake, friends, or otherwise.”
My gut clenches. It hurts more than expected to hear him say it.
I lift my chin, determined not to cry in front of him. “Okay, then. I think you should go now.”
“I should say goodbye to your parents.”
I shake my head. “I’ll say goodbye for you.”
He stands there, studying me like he’s trying to figure me out. What does he expect me to say after he ended things?
“Goodbye, Mackenzie.” He turns and strides down the steps.
“Bye,” I manage through the knot in my throat.
I slink back inside and rush into the bathroom for a good cry. Damn him for expecting me to explain our relationship. It’s not like I planned to fall in love with him and hope he’d join me, which he didn’t. I drop my head in my hands. This whole thing is soexhausting.
After a few calming breaths, I splash cold water on my face. I take one step out of the bathroom and come face-to-face with Mom. She takes in my cry face, puts an arm aroundmy shoulders, and guides me into her office, shutting the door behind us.
I take a seat in her cushy desk chair, and she pulls her other chair next to me. “Is it Cal?” she asks.
“We broke up.”
“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry. I know that hurts.”
A spark of anger flares. I wouldn’t be in this mess if she hadn’t been matchmaking my entire adult life. “It didn’t help that you hinted about planning our wedding.”
She hands me a tissue. “It couldn’t have been a strong relationship if a hint can destroy it. You’re better off.”
I dab at the tears with the tissue, torn between anger and grief. “Everything backfired.” My voice chokes. “I had all these inconvenient feelings, and then I messed it up, and he acted all weird, and now I’m getting dumped when I should’ve been the one walking away.”
