Page 44 of Broken Princess

"Sordid is the most generous possible interpretation," I quip, deciding to leave it at that.

My parents still act like my youngest brother is some kind of innocent little saint. It wasn't true back then and it sure as hell isn't true now.

"Where is Dad?" I ask.

"He's finishing up some things in his office, but he'll be down any minute," she assures me, handing me a piping hot dish nestled between two potholders. "Be a dear and set this on the table, would you?"

"Sure," I say, going over to find it's just one dish out of the buffet she's prepared. Some things never change.

"So, how is Kayleigh doing?" Mom asks absently as she bustles around the kitchen, finishing her dinner preparations. I'm not surprised she's gone all out, even though it's just going to be the three of us. Food is definitely her love language.

"She's fine," I say, trying not to sound as utterly disinterested in the subject as I am.

Ironically, Kayleigh is acting more suspicious now than when I was sleeping with Amelia, but to be fair, I've been avoiding her even more than usual since I don't need an excuse to go over to the house at the moment.

She glances over her shoulder at me. "Just fine? You know, you should bring her by sometime. She's your fiancée, and we hardly ever see her."

"You're not missing out," I say halfway under my breath before I can stop myself. Fortunately, she doesn't seem to notice since she's occupied with adding the exact spice ratio to the sauce simmering on the stove.

"It would be nice to get to know my future daughter-in-law," she says pointedly.

"We're not getting married," I say, letting the words slip out before I can stop them.

Mom freezes, the spoon mid-air as she turns to look at me. "What do you mean, you're not getting married?"

I take a deep breath. I didn't mean for that to come out now. I thought I'd at least wait until halfway through dinner, but it's probably better I dropped it on her for a test run rather than in front of Dad. He's going to go nuclear, which is why I haven't done this sooner, but I can't keep it up anymore.

Not being with Amelia should have made it easier to go through with the charade, but it hasn't. If anything, it's only made it worse.

"I mean, we're not getting married," I say slowly and deliberately, enunciating each word so she knows I'm serious. "I'm calling the engagement off."

She sets the spoon down with a clatter and stares at me. "What on earth would possess you to do something like that?"

"It's not working out," I say flatly. "We're not compatible."

She just continues staring at me like she has no idea what I'm talking about, or whether I've lost my mind. I guess that makes two of us. I came here planning on talking to them, but I realize only now I wasn't actually sure I was going to go through with it.

Before she can say anything, a low, gravelly voice asks, "Not compatible with who?"

Mom turns around, looking as nervous as I probably should be, if I could bring myself to care about anything. I turn to find Dad standing there, and while the fact that he's not trying to strangle me is proof he didn't hear everything, I can tell from the borderline furious look in his eyes that he heard enough.

Mom gives me an almost pleading look, as if begging me to change my mind, but even she can't tug on my borderline nonexistent heartstrings enough to backtrack now that the words are actually out of my mouth.

As crazy as this is, it felt... good to say them. Like something I should have done a long time ago.

"I'm not marrying Kayleigh," I say, sounding even more resolved this time. "The engagement is off."

For a few moments, neither of them says anything, and I start to wonder if they even heard me. Then, Dad slowly starts to chuckle, a mirthless laugh that doesn't reach his eyes. "You're joking, right?"

I shake my head. "No."

"Son," he starts, still chuckling in a way that's unnervingly stiff. "This is not the time for jokes."

"I'm not joking," I say again. "I don't love her. I never have. Hell, I can't stand her."

"You will," he says, his voice taking on a hard edge. "You're going to marry her and have children with her, and you will be happy. These things come with time."

"No, Dad," I say, shook my head. "I'm not going to do that. I'm not going to marry someone I don't love just because you say so."

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