Page 35 of Faux Real
I am in agood mood. I’m manifesting that shit. Positive vibes only tonight. After Oliver’sconfidencecomment, I got a little bummed out but decided to put that unwelcome feeling in a tiny box that’s tucked in the far corner of my mind. Lock that shit up. Iamconfident! I am positive. And tonight, I’m going to have fun. I deserve fun.
“Uh-huh,” Max hums. “I’m not giving you any more, Ken.”
“You always say that” I note as I take her off speakerphone and head out the door toward the parking lot.
“Well, this time I actually can’t,” Max says, almost apologetically. “My mom decided to take me off of it after she watched a documentary on Big Pharma, so I’m serious, Ken. That’s all you have.”
“Yeah, whatever, Max,” I sigh, galloping down the stairs. “Like I said, it’s no big deal.”
“Alrighty then,” Max sings. “Oh! Leon is here! Okay, I’ll see you in half an hour! Can’t wait to finally meet yourboyfriend.”
I groan. “Oh yeah, me too.”
Max says goodbye to me, and I hang up, exiting the school. My eyes dart toward the black town car parked in the drop-off zone, Oliver nowhere to be seen. I texted him to be ready! As I approach the vehicle, the driver’s side window rolls down revealing my favorite person in the world.
“Eddie!” I shriek, unable to contain my excitement. “Oh my God! What are you doing here? I thought you were in D.C. with my dad!”
Eddie gets out of the car, a giant grin on his friendly and comforting face. “Hiya, sweet pea,” he says as I run into his arms, nearly knocking the wind out of him. “Miss me?”
I look up at him with bright eyes, overwhelmed by a sense of safety, comfort. “Yes! I thought Bowen was going to drive me today. Why are you here?”
Eddie adjusts his black tie, a soft smile on his face, his brown eyes crinkling. “I had some family business to take care of in New York, but I saw that you requested a ride tonight and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see you, now could I?”
I grin. “‘Cause you missed me too?”
“Every day, Kenny,” he smiles, opening the back door for me. “Oh, by the way—” he pauses, raising a bushy brow. “Who’s the boy?” My eyes dart inside the car.
Oh shit.
“You’re late,” Oliver says, giving me a slow once-over, hooking his ankle over his thigh, the laces of his black Doc Martens hanging off the sides.
He justgot in? Didn’t even wait for me? Andwhatis he wearing? He’s like the grim reaper, dressed all in black. Not that I’m any better. God, we look like we’re going to a fucking funeral. “Sorry,” I mumble, pressing my lips into a thin line as I gingerly slide into the car, Eddie tossing me an inquisitive look as he closes the door. I hope they didn’t talk much. Eddie is chatty.
“You look different,” Oliver observes, scanning my outfit, his lips twist up inquisitively.
“Thanks?” Was that a good different or a bad different? I don’t think I want to know. Oliver continues to eye me in silence. Ok, creep. I clear my throat. Moving on now. “So, uh—how’d you know this was the right car?” I whisper, buckling my seat belt as Eddie hops into the driver’s seat.
“Iasked,” Oliver explains lazily, adjusting the cuff of his leather jacket. “Eddie was just telling meallabout you.”
“He was?” I ask, meeting Eddie’s gaze in the rearview mirror. “And what did he say?”
“That you’re myfavoriteclient,” Eddie sings, pulling out of the school. “And the smartest girl I’ve ever met in my whole life, and that’s including Zara.”
“Zara’s Eddie’s daughter,” I explain to Oliver who looks completely lost. I turn my attention back to the man who basically raised me. “Don’t worry, Ed, I won’t tell her you said that.”
“Our little secret,” Eddie laughs as he turns onto the main road. “So Kenny, how do you know this young man?” He pauses. “Youdoknow him, right? I didn’t just let a stranger into the car?”
I let out a nervous chuckle, glancing toward Oliver who’s crossing his arms in anticipation of my answer. “Uh—he’s a friend. A new friend.Reallynew.”
“A new friend?” Eddie hums. “Interesting. And does your father know about your...new friend.”
“Nope,” I peep, fiddling with the hem of my dress. “And I’d like to keep it that way, please?”
“You want me tolieto my employer?” Eddie asks, a hint of humor in his voice. “I don’t know, Kenny, you know how your father gets.” He pauses, catching the frown on my face. “Has he called you recently?”
“No,” I say in a low voice. “I haven’t talked to him since he left to go back to D.C. in August.”
“I’m sure he’s just busy, sweet pea,” Eddie reassures me like he always does. “He probably doesn’t get a lot of free time.”
