Page 45 of The Wedding Hoax

Was she just dangling the truth right in my face?

“Just got Mom down for her afternoon nap,” Simone said as she walked into the living room. “I think she may have had one too many mimosas during brunch. She never passes out like that.”

“Is it okay if she drinks mimosas? With her condition?”

Simone stopped in her tracks. “Are you seriously asking about my mom’s health?”

“You think I don’t care about your mom’s health?”

“No, it’s just—” Simone shook her head. “That’s just not the kind of thing I think you’d spend your time thinking about. It’s not work-related so I figured it wasn’t a priority.”

“I care about more than just work, Simone,” I said as I stepped toward her. “For example, I also really care about how you think brunch went with my family.”

“I think it went pretty great.”

“You don’t think they suspected anything?” I pressed. “Not even my mom? I feel like that rumor thing she pulled with your mom was her trying to hint at something sideways.”

“I don’t think so, no. If anything, they seemed pretty pumped about the whole thing.”

“The only thing they seemed pumped about was me keeping the company.” I scoffed. “Even though they were willing to rip it all away over nothing. It’s like, make up your mind. Either you want me to be CEO or you don’t.”

“They always wanted you to be CEO, Harry.”

“Could’ve fooled me.”

Simone went silent for a moment, like there was something weighing on her mind. Suddenly, she spoke. “I think they’re just excited for us, you know? Excited for you. They’re happy that you found someone.”

“Right. Because if I hadn’t found someone, they would’ve taken away my life’s work just because I didn’t fall in love based on their made-up timeline.”

“You should give them more credit than that.”

“Why?”

“Because they’re your family. And they love you,” Simone replied. “Because even if they make mistakes sometimes, they really do just want what’s best for you.”

“You’re defending them again?” I took a step away from Simone. “Huh. I really thought you were starting to have my back here.”

“I do have your back, Harry.” Simone took a step toward me, closing the distance between us. “I just think you should cut them some slack. They’re not perfect, but they really are trying.”

“I don’t believe in giving out trophies just for trying.”

“No one’s talking about giving out trophies.” Simone reached for my hand. “I just think you don’t know how good you have it sometimes. You still have both your parents. You have Sean and Ruby. You have Maxon.”

Simone looked away from me as she went on. “It was so hard for my mom and me after we lost Dad. It was like everything just fell apart, all at once. My mom had to get used to life without him. She had to get used to being in her wheelchair, too. Meanwhile, I was going through my own personal hell. My dad was my best friend and he was just… gone.”

Simone brought her gaze back to mine. “I know you have complicated feelings about your family, Harry. But you have no idea how much you’re going to regret pushing them away when they’re gone. Everything might be messy and confusing now, but you’re going to miss all of that when you can’t see them again.”

“Simone.” It was all I could say as I wrapped my palm around hers. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to come off as ungrateful. I know what you’ve been through. It’s just—”

“Complicated?”

“Extremely.” I chuckled, trying my best to lighten the mood. “Especially since it feels like I’m never going to be good enough. Like I’m never going to fit in. I’ve always felt so different than what they expected me to be, Simone. I don’t know if there’s a cure for that.”

“Nothing about you needs to be cured, Harry O’Donnell.”

I smiled down at her as she leaned closer to me.

Just as I leaned closer to her.

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