Page 193 of Tangled Like Us

Brown waves cascade on my collarbones, frizz successfully combatted. More presentable for a meet-the-parents dinner. This is my best foot forward.

I untie my cotton robe, a little hot all of a sudden. “What if I’m so awfully verbose and I annoy them?”

My mom snaps a glare at me through the mirror. “You’re not too verbose. You’re words are an asset.” She speaks like it’s written in stone and blood and all indelible things. “And if they don’t like you, then that says more about them than you.”

I love that she doesn’t tell me theywilllove me and give me a false sense of confidence. She lays battle armor on my shoulders.

Sometimes I feel as though I’m the daughter of Joan of Arc. Ready for war.

I try to take a breath. Another insecurity rises. “What if they hate me?” A good portion of the world does, and I catch all three sisters glancing cautiously at each other.

I spin on my heels. “I recognize that I’m only fake dating Thatcher—it’s not serious between us.”Do I sound defensive?

My eyes bug.

I keep going. “We will break up soon.We will.It is in the stars.” My collarbones protrude, my eyes burn. “But his family is special to him, and he’s my bodyguard. I’d rather themnothate me.”

“If they judge you that harshly afteronemeal, you don’t want to be loved by them,” my mom retorts.

Lily nods repeatedly. “What Rose said.”

Daisy looks at my mom. “Didn’t you throwwineon your mother-in-law’s blouse when you first met her?”

My lips rise, remembering this story.

My mom sighs at the memory, then flips her hair off her shoulder. “And I prevailed.”

“See,” Daisy smiles at me. “You could throw wine on someone, and all could end miraculously.”

I breathe in their encouragements the best I can.

“How are you doing with the fake dating thing?” Lily asks. All of them thought the ploy was a good idea.

I remember the notes he’s been leaving me, and I smile. “It’s worked rather well.”

My mom crosses her arms. “Security told me it’s dispelled some potential stalkers.”

“It has.”

Only a handful remain. Thatcher and the rest of security are taking care of them.

“So it was worth it then?” Daisy asks, adjusting the cat ears. “Fake dating your bodyguard?”

I picture all the nights we’ve spent together. “Yes, I’d say so.” I sound more morose than I intend.

Lily frowns deeply. “You know, you don’t have to go meet his family. If it’d be easier, you could just come up with an excuse.”

“Like a cold or 24-hour flu,” Daisy offers.

That thought sends a wave of knives into my stomach. “Why would that be easier?” I take the skirt and vest from their hands.

“Because,” my mom says icily, “you’re going to be lying to them. All of them.”

I’m going to be lying to his family.

To their faces. None of them think this is afakerelationship. His family believes we’re really together.

I understand now. My aunts and my mom are concerned about me. They want to protect me from this deception. In truth, I haven’t felt like I was going over there to lie or fabricate some story.