Page 60 of The Fun Part
All eyes turn to me. Cal brings a chair over for me next to Harper, and the women make room.
“Thank you.” I take a seat and turn to Harper. “You like this happy-ever-after stuff?” My voice drops to a whisper, my eyes stinging. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
She rolls her eyes. “It’s no big deal. It’s fun like those black-and-white movies your mom turned me onto.”
Mom smiles. “They are fun. So nice to see you, sweetie, and your boyfriend too.”
Obviously she believes the fake-dating thing and thinks nothing of it. I spent all that time with Cal to prove a point, and then I was the one to fall in love. Me, Miss Practical. I try to smile but can’t manage it.
Mom continues, smiling at Cal, “We always find the male perspective on romance enlightening.”
The women snicker, giving each other significant looks. I wonder if they make their husbands read romance.
“It held my interest,” Cal says. “There was a lot of unexpected stuff in there. All good, though.”
My eyes widen.Seriously? Is he talking about sex with my female family and friends?
He continues in an amiable tone, “I already started book two in the series.”
The women applaud. I shrink into my seat, feeling like an outsider.
“The steam level was on point,” Aunt Mad says.
“Oh my God, the elevator scene,” Harper says.
“What did you think about the bathroom scene?” Mom asks the group.
“See, I don’t find that sexy anymore,” Aunt Charlotte says. “Germs.”
“Can we assume the fictional bathroom has been properly sanitized?” Aunt Carrie asks.
Everyone laughs. Cal launches into a serious discussion of the romance genre and what it means to women and how that reflects on men and our culture as a whole. Next thing you know, my cat is going to start walking on his hind legs and telling me he wants a forever love.
Seeing Cal take seriously what these women love gets to me. My anger fades, and warmth takes its place. Maybe one day we can be friends again. He’s a good person, just not good for me.
I zone out until people start gathering their coats and purses. Cal stands and holds out my coat to help me into it. It’s more trouble than it’s worth to avoid him, so I slide my arms into the sleeves, feeling Mom’s eyes on me.
A few moments later, we walk out the door, heading to Happy Endings across the street for drinks. Aunt Mad joins Cal, telling him he should meet her sons, who are big baseball fans. They start talking baseball.
I get a step behind, and Mom joins me. “I was surprised to see you and Cal here.”
I can’t take my eyes off Cal in profile as he speaks to Aunt Mad. He’s so handsome and well spoken. I wish I didn’t notice everything about him. “Yeah, uh…” Then I remember Aunt Mad invited us both last week. Cal must’ve taken Aunt Mad’s invitation seriously, and how sweet is it that he wants to be part of things? “Aunt Mad invited us.”
Cal smiles at something Aunt Mad says, and my pulse skitters.
“So things are going well between you two?” Mom asks gently.
Is this the point where I confess we were fake dating, or do I say we broke up? Did we break up?
“Mmm. He’s good. So how’s work?”
“We’ve got our spring and summer fully booked.”
“That’s great.”
“Yeah. Oh! We’re planning a girls’ trip to New Orleans after the busy season,” Mom says. “Harper’s going. You’re welcome to join us.”
Yet another thing Harper never shared. She’s got new hobbies, a new outlook on love, and a girls’ trip in the works. What kind of best friend/sister/cousin leaves you out of so much of their life?
