Page 35 of The Love Hoax

“So, what else do we need to plan?” I ask, trying to change the subject, the ring like a boulder on my finger.

Adam takes a deep breath. “Well, we should probably decide how we got engaged.”

“Okay.”

Adam thinks for a moment. “We could say it was a surprise proposal. Like, I took you on a hike and then got down on one knee at the top of the mountain.”

My eyes widen. “That’s actually kind of romantic.”

Adam grins. “Yeah, I thought so too.”

My stomach growls. “Oops, sorry.”

“You’re hungry.”

“Maybe a little.”

“How about some oatmeal?”

“No Froot Loops?”

He laughs. “Nah, let’s go crazy today.”

I stand, looking for a pot.

“You sit, I got this.”

I do as I’m told, glancing down at the rock on my finger, certain the day is only going to get a whole lot weirder.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Evie

Adam and I spend the rest of the morning strategizing and practicing our engagement story. We have to get this right. From what Adam shares, his mother and sister, Steph, are notoriously nosy and love to ask probing questions.

As we’re finishing up, Adam’s phone rings. He looks down at the caller ID and blanches.

“It’s my mom,” he says, answering the call. “Hey, Mom . . . yeah, we’re just finishing up some stuff . . . what? No, we didn’t break up . . . what do you mean? . . . Oh, crap.”

I look at Adam, a sinking feeling settling in my stomach.

He hangs up the phone and lets out a deep sigh.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“My mom is making a collage of the family as a surprise gift for Steph and Brad. They want a picture of me and Ronna.”

“Okay, how hard can that be?”

“They want a kissing photo.”

“Oh.” I break eye contact. “Seems odd she didn’t mention this to you before.”

“Um, she did. I was avoiding it and then sort of forgot.”

Uh huh. “Or maybe you suppressed it?”

Adam shrugs. “Yeah, probably.”