Page 28 of Taken By the Fake Fiancé

He won't keep me from visiting my sisters. I'm going to do that as soon as I get the chance.

"You know," Emma says. "You can play his favorite games with him."

I blink confusedly.

"Play games with who?"

"The boy you really want to win over. Boys love their video games and always kind of weirdly bond over them."

"Wow. I didn't know that."I say, and then add, "How did you know that?"

“My friend in school tells me how he loves to play video games with his brothers, and how that is what has brought them closer together.”

“I don't know anything about video games,”I mutter.

"You could ask him to teach you. It would be a great way to bond anyway, another way of winning him over."

"You're right,"I say truthfully. "I could try to do that and hope he doesn't bite my head off."

"He won't. Boys can be weird sometimes, but they're easy to please."

"I can't remember you being this insightful while I was around."

"Oh, please,"Emma says, and I let out loud laughter.

We talk a bit more about Eli and boys, I can't believe that at this moment I am having a boy conversation with my sister. But I am super proud of how she's turned out and how innocent, despite her wealth of knowledge, she still is.

“Mother says Sadie went for a sleepover,” I say as I plop onto the bed, having washed my face and changed into comfy clothes.

"Yes. She has made really cool friends, I am happy for her."

Emma and I had pretty much been in the same shoes in school. We never really had that many friends growing up. So, I guess it fills us with such great comfort to see Sadie make friends and be included in sleepovers.

"This is really nice,"Emma says, sounding slightly tired but happy.

"Yes," I answer with a smile in my voice.

"I hope we get to do this again soon,"she whispers.

"We definitely will,"I assure her.

When we say our goodbyes, my heart aches slightly at the disconnection I feel. I am going to visit my family more often than I usually do and tell Mother, despite our slightly sour relationship, how much I really do love her.

Chapter Eight

Declan

Imakemywaytoward Eli's room, dreading the talk that I wish I could avoid. When I get to the boy's door, I take a deep breath and raise my hand to knock.

"Who is it?" comes Eli's voice, like he couldn't possibly guess that it would be me.

"It's me, Buddy."

"Yes?"

"Can we talk?" I press myself closer to the door to say.

For a second, I wonder whether Amelia has ever had to do this with him. Had she ever had to talk with him? I wonder how she's ever handled all of that while I've been away.

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