Page 35 of Powerless

“This is crazy, even for you. Who cares if one tray of food has cilantro?”

Mom’s eyes widen as she tilts her head to the side. “The Marshalls are coming, and everything needs to be perfect.”

“You think because of the cilantro, that they’re going to storm out of here and refuse to come back?”

“Sometime in the near future you’ll be marrying their daughter, which means we’ll be spending more time together and—”

“Mom.” I step forward and give her a hug. “You stress too much over things that don’t matter.”

“This needs to go well.”

It really doesn’t, because I ain’t marrying Jen. “I know,” I say as I offer her nothing more than a smile. “And it will. But shouting at the people who’ll be feeding us isn’t a smart idea.” A smile splits my face. “Now I’m scared to eat the food they’ve made,” I say, trying to lighten Mom’s frantic mood. There has to be more to it than just the damn cilantro. “The house looks amazing.” I sweep my hand across the banister that houses the deep-red decorations. “Honestly, it looks like the North Pole threw up in here. It’s perfect, so you don’t have to worry about anything.”

“Maybe I should’ve done more.”

“Every year you panic about your Christmas party and how everything looks, but this year, you’re over-the-top cray-cray.”

Mom’s mouth flattens and an unimpressed glare flashes across her face. “Cray-cray?” she repeats in a deadpan tone.

“Yep.” I pull my shoulders back as I smirk.

“You’re lucky I love you.” She looks around the foyer at all the Christmas decorations before she advances toward the ten-foot tree. She fixes one decoration and takes a step back. “Everything does look exceptional.” Mom continues backward until she’s standing beside me. “I’m doing all this for you, darling. We need to make sure your future in-laws know you’re a good man.”

A small shiver of revulsion passes over me. The fact they all think Jen and I are going to be married still makes me sick to my stomach. But we only have to continue this ruse for a few more months; then it’ll be over for all of us.

Jen, Liam, and I will be on the other side of the country. Jen will be free to date whoever she wants, Kathryn and I will be together and Liam, well... Liam will be Liam.

“You look perfect in your suit, darling.” Mom adjusts my tie before dusting her hands over my shoulders. She smiles proudly. “You and Jen will make beautiful babies.” Gross.

“Thanks,” I say, my own voice cracking as I tug at the collar around my neck.

“Not yet though. But, it would be best if you both started trying in your final year of college. A young father is good optics for the American public.”

Yeah, screw the fact that Jen and I aren’t in love with each other. “Jennifer and I will have a discussion about that.” And we’ll laugh at the ridiculousness of it.

“Good. I’d like to be a grandmother sooner than later.”

“No pressure,” I say sarcastically as I take the first step up the staircase.

“Not yet, obviously.”

“Um.” I point upstairs. “I need to go and...” I stare at Mom, not sure what to say. “I’ve got stuff to do before people begin arriving.”

Mom clearly senses my discomfort and gives me a small nod. “Of course.”

I take off upstairs to my room. I close the door and lean against it as I shake my head, attempting to forget the whole baby conversation Mom forced on me. I head over and sit on the side of my bed. I close my eyes as I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Ugh,” I grumble at myself, frustrated with this entire impossible situation.

This is a clusterfuck of bullshit, but all we have to do is keep up with appearances until I “break” Jen’s heart by being a cheating boyfriend. I know I’ll cop some backlash from Jen’s parents and probably have an enemy in the party for the rest of my life. I can live with that if Jen is able to live her life without having to be married to a man she doesn’t love and become a human incubator.

I stay in my room for what feels like hours before there’s a knock. “Yeah.”

The door slowly opens and Mom pops her head in. “Guests are arriving. You should come downstairs.” I stand and run my hands over my suit pants before adjusting my cufflinks and buttoning my suit jacket. Mom waits and as I advance toward her, she crooks her elbow so I can take it and lead her downstairs. “You’ll make a fine husband, Bennett. And an even better politician with the right connections.”

I plaster a fake smile on my face and give Mom a small nod as we descend the staircase. “Thank you.”

“Caleb, Sophia and Jennifer should be arriving soon.”

“Great.”

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