Page 28 of The Naughty List

I run my fingers over the smooth edges of the crystal and a lump forms in my throat. He’s thoughtful. This whole time I thought it was just an act but maybe— “I’m so sorry I didn’t get you anything.” I suddenly feel awful.

“No, don’t apologize. I, uh, I already have the most amazing gift I could ask for.” He reaches over and squeezes my knee and I think he’s done but he slides off the couch and produces another small box from his pocket. I look around nervously but he reaches out and grabs my hand. “I’m so grateful you agreed to be my wife and now, I get to do it right with this.”

He opens the box slowly and my hand instinctively shoots to my mouth. There staring back at me is my grandmother’s antique wedding ring. I don’t think twice; I jump up, tears stinging my eyes as I run up the stairs to my bedroom.

I throw myself on my bed, tears running down my cheeks. How did I get myself into this mess? My parents were right about me; clearly, I can’t manage life on my own.

“Kate?” Damon’s voice interrupts my thoughts.

“Go away,” I say, sniffing as I wipe away the tears.

“Kate, what happened? What’s going on?” he asks as he ignores my comment and sits on the bed beside me. He reaches out and touches my leg. I jerk it away, sitting up rapidly.

“Are you fucking serious?” My words sting; he looks like I just slapped him. “This whole thing is a nightmare! It’s gone too far.” I’m sure my mascara is running down my face but right now, I couldn’t give a shit.

“Last Christmas, I thought—I thought that I’d be getting a proposal, a real one from Chad with that ring. So it was like salt in the fucking wound when I opened it and saw it staring back at me and it’s all just a big fucking lie.”

I see his face drop as he hangs his head. “Kate, I had no idea, I’m so sorry. When your mom came to me with the idea, I thought tha—”

“What? When?”

“Two days ago.” He looks confused again.

“Are you serious? You’ve known about this for two days and you didn’t say anything to me? You really thought yeah, this is a good idea!”

“I don’t know. It all happened so fast I got confused and I panicked. I didn’t know what to do or what you would want me to do. So I just…”

“Really? Mister always has the perfect answer for everything, mister I can do no wrong, I can fix everything didn’t know what to do?” My words are coming out rapid-fire, anger dripping from each one, and I do nothing to stop myself. “You knew!” I say, pointing to him through my tears. “You kept it from me. Just go.” He starts to object but I roll back over. “Leave me alone. Please.” This time he listens, leaving without another word.

I’ve nearly cried myself to sleep when I hear the click of the door opening again.

“I said leave me alone.” I sniff. When nobody replies, I glance over my shoulder to see my mom walking over to my bed. She sits down next to me and the waterworks start all over again.

“Sweetheart, you don’t have to tell me what’s wrong, but you do owe that poor man an explanation. He really loves you, honey, but if you’ve had a change of he—”

“It’s not real.” I sniff.

“What?”

“It’s not real, Mom. We’re not engaged; we aren’t dating; we’re not even friends.” Her face is marred with confusion. “He’s my boss, Mom.”

“Derek?” She gasps, clutching her nonexistent pearls.

“Damon. Derek isn’t real. That’s the name—it doesn’t matter. Damon is just my boss, my asshole, dickbag boss that offered to bring me home for Christmas but being my pretend boyfriend or fiancé was never part of the deal.”

“Sweetie, I’m sorry but I am so confused.” I let out a sigh and close my eyes briefly before I spend the next several minutes telling her how the plan came about. A few minutes into the story my dad knocks and comes into the room so I have to start over.

“But why, Kate?” my dad asks.

“I’m sure I sound crazy but…” I hesitate.

“It was partly because of Chad and the fact that you guys always seem like you have no faith in me. You acted like once I dropped out of college I was hopeless, and then you were all happy again when I met Chad because he could save me or whatever.”

They both stare at me. My dad starts to interrupt me, but I hold up my hand.

“Let me just get this out. Chad isn’t the amazing guy you guys think he is. I’m ninety-nine percent positive he cheated on me with Tessa and when we broke up you guys took his side; you acted like my feelings didn’t matter.” I begin to cry again, and my mom wraps her arms around me.

“I just wanted to feel like I was more important. I just felt like you guys chose him and the fact that I even have to say all this makes me feel like shit.” Sobs rack my body and my parents both envelop me in their arms.

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