Page 76 of Fake Dating Mr. Prince

Dinner with his parents had gone a lot better than I’d expected. They welcomed me so quickly I wondered what Dean had told them about me. When he shared I was saving to start my own company, they showed immediate interest in my idea. Hearing Dean’s father tell me he thought I made a smart choice in niches, and his mother’s enthusiasm for the curvy branding, made me feel I was making the right choice in moving forward with my business venture. Being with them I felt valued and seen.

By the time the evening was over, his mother and I had exchanged numbers with the promise we would get together soon for lunch. Just us girls. Before meeting her, the idea of seeing her without Dean would’ve filled me with dread, but now it was something I was looking forward to. Bethany Prince was the mother I’d always wished I’d had, and what I imagined my own mother might have been like.

My lips curled into a smile as I pressed play to hear her message.

“Hello, Ashlyn. I wanted to follow up with you about my lunch invitation. I’d asked Dean about your schedule, and he said you were free tomorrow. I’m sorry for the last-minute invitation, but we had such a lovely time at dinner that I thought we could continue our conversation about your business at lunch. I’ve met your stepmother a handful of times over the years and thought it would be a perfect opportunity for me to get to know her better. I hope you don’t mind, but I reached out to her this morning to see if she would join us, and she said she’d be delighted.”

Wait. What was happening?Had I entered the twilight zone?

My throat burned, and I held back the vomit I knew was close to the surface. Panic consumed me as I tried to figure out what to do and how to respond. I didnotwant Bethany to spend time with Elaine.

As I stood there, not sure what to do, my phone pinged with a text from Dean.

Dean: Good morning, beautiful. I wanted to give you the heads up that my mom will call, inviting you and Elaine to lunch tomorrow.

Me: She just left me a message. I was surprised.

I didn’t want to say too much. I hadn’t told Dean about the horrible way Elaine treated me. A part of me was afraid if he heard the things she said he might start thinking them too. That would crush me. I told myself that I was being silly, but the years with Elaine were too well ingrained to expect anything but loathing.

Dean supported me. Believed in me. For now anyway.

Dean: Yeah, I was, too, but you really made an impression on my mom. She said you were so sweet she had to meet the woman responsible for that.

Or the woman I’d become despite Elaine.

Me: Yeah, I’m so excited.

Even as my fingers hesitated over the keys, I was grateful we were texting. If he heard my voice, he’d know something was wrong.

Dean: I know we had plans for the afternoon, but I thought I could swing by at the end of your lunch, and we could hang out afterward.

Me: Yes, please come for part of the luncheon.

My desperate plea made me want to write please a hundred times. Dean showing up might be my ticket to getting out of this lunch early.

Dean: Great. I’ll see you then.

***

ISMOOTHED DOWN THEfront of my dress again, amazed I hadn’t worn through the fabric. I was waiting outside the restaurant for Elaine to arrive while Bethany was inside at our table.

Elaine’s car pulled up, and sweat dribbled down my back.

I can do this. I am strong. Elaine can’t hurt me.

Stella and I had practiced this mantra since we were kids. It often gave me the courage to stand up to Elaine on the rare occasions I needed to. Not last night though, each time I said it, my anxiety surged, and sleep was elusive.

She stepped out in a black and white polka dot dress, the perfect shoes, and her short hair without a strand out of place. For a second, I thought she would walk past me. Her gaze never settled anywhere near me.

“Hi, Elaine.”

She slowly drew her sunglasses down her nose. “Oh, Ashlyn, I didn’t see you.”

“So nice you could join us today.”

“While surprised at the invitation, I know it will do me good to be seen with Bethany Prince.” She stopped two feet from me. “Why are you loitering out here? Let’s go inside. It’s bad enough you look so ...” She waved her hand in the air as she looked me over. “unprofessional. We don’t need to be late too. You do know they sell makeup to cover those dark circles, Ashlyn, right?”

Elaine swept past me, leaving me no choice but to follow her. Once inside the restaurant, the hostess led us directly to our table.