Page 85 of Not How I Saw That Going

But that was probably just my crazy, and we all know she’s not to be trusted.

After they finish cooking, Ward helps Crew set the table. We have mac ‘n cheese for breakfast, and I think it’s my favorite breakfast ever.

“And then Mommy and Aunt Maddie did this,” Crew says, and I’m snapped back to the present, where my four-year-old son is attempting to twerk at the breakfast table.

Ward looks over at me, his eyes sparkling. “Now this is a story I need to hear.”

“I…” What did I miss? “What are you guys talking about?” I tug at the front of my shirt. Why is it so hot in here?

Ward leans back and crosses his arms over his chest, and I’m distracted by the bulging muscles that save lives every day.

My pulse picks up tempo.Shoot.I’m having a heart attack.

“Crew said you and Maddie dance on the tic tac.” Ward smiles.

I shoot my son a ‘how could you’ look, but he’s oblivious, like any other child when their mom talks to them.

Crew shoves the last bite of mac ‘n cheese in his mouth, then hops down from the chair to wreak havoc in another area of the apartment.

Ward leans over the table. I swear it wasn’t this small yesterday.

“So what is the tic tac and should I be concerned you’re dancing on it?” Ward has a devilish gleam in his eyes and my face burns.

“He’s just talking about TikTok,” I clarify. “And you’ve seen it so... no need to revisit the past.” I wouldn’t mind revisiting a few other things from this morning though.

He looks at me like he wants to say something more, but the smile that was almost on his face disappears. “Well,” Ward says, gathering up his dishes. “I should probably get that toilet fixed for you guys now. Can’t have my fake girlfriend going down to 7-Eleven in the middle of the night.”

I could care less about the toilet, but I get what he’s not saying. It’s time for us to go back to pretending. Last night and this morning weren’t enough to pull us out of the fake zone.

Gosh, which one is worse: the friend zone or the fake zone?

I set my forkful of spaghetti back on my plate. I’m so confused I can’t even eat right now.

I look at Maddie. “I don’t know if I can go with him to the gala.”

Ward wants me there as his pretend girlfriend, but my feelings for him don’t feel fake anymore. I’m beginning to suspect they never were. Pretending I’m his for a night will only hurt me for real.

Maddie drops her fork and it clatters to her plate, which is apparently the only invitation Crew needs to start beating on his own plate.

“What do you mean? Of course, you’re going to the gala with Ward. I’m already planning on watching Crew,” she says while snatching the fork out of Crew’s hand in one swift movement. She’s learned well.

“It’s a gala. Which means fancy. The only fancy thing I own is my Sunday skirt from high school.” After having a baby and packing on the curves, it’s now strictly a Saturday night skirt.

What kind of use do I have for a Saturday night skirt? Absolutely none.

So basically, it’s just one of those items in my closet I refuse to get rid of because someday it will fit again. It’s never happened, and now all I feel when I look at it is shame.

“Girl, throw that thing away. It wasn’t cute in high school.” Maddie switches Crew’s fork out for a plastic one and sits back down.

I take a bite of my spaghetti because I can never stay upset with food for long. “Hey, rude. I got a lot of comments on that skirt.”

She raises one of her perfect eyebrows I’d kill to have. I wish I could find my tweezers and a few hours of free time.

“I’m pretty sure you also got pregnant in that skirt.”

“No, I didn’t.” I gape, but now I’m not sure. I’ve officially shared too much with my best friend. “I’m throwing it out the moment I get home.”

“Look.” Maddie pushes away her empty plate, which had been full of vegetables. Thankfully she loves me and Crew enough to still cook things like meat and pasta. “Don’t worry about a dress. I have an idea.” She pulls out her phone, and I’m transported back in time to right before my life flipped upside down.