Page 42 of This Kind of Forever

I really like you, too.

SIXTEEN

HALLIE

I’ve never been moreterrified of dropping a pie plate in my life. A pie I didn’t even make.

It wasn’t hard to convince Maggie to help me with the apple pie, but the whole time I was at Haven House with her, guilt churned in my stomach. Because I waslying, and using her son to do it. Sure, I wasn’t lying toher, but I also wasn’t being outright about Gabe pretending to be my fiancé. About him coming with me to the dinner that requires this pie.

“You ready?” Gabe asks beside me.

I take a deep breath, then nod. “Ready.”

Or not. But it’s too late. Gabe has already rung the doorbell, and Kevin is already standing in the threshold, a cautiously optimistic smile on his face.

“Hi,” I say. “I brought pie!”

Tone it down seven hundred notches, Hallie.You sound like you sucked on a balloon full of helium.

“Looks delicious,” Kevin says. “Come on in.”

Gabe and I step inside, and then we do the awkward shuffle of removing our shoes and shedding our jackets. Somewherealong the way, the pie transfers to Kevin, and I realize I have nothing left to hold on to for support.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Kevin says, holding out a hand. The other safely holds the pie. “You must be Gabriel.”

Gabe returns his handshake. He’s wearing a button-up, but he has the sleeves rolled up, which means his tattoos are on full display. “Gabe is fine. Nice to meet you, too.”

Kevin gestures to the woman standing off to the side. She’s tall and slender, dressed in slacks and a cashmere sweater. Her light brown hair, threaded with some grey, is fastened into a neat chignon. Her lipstick complements her fair skin.

“This is my wife, Dana.”

I offer her a sheepish smile. Awkward tension hangs in the air. Still, I push through it. I want to make this work, so I exchange pleasantries with her.

“And your daughter?” Dana asks Gabe.

“She’s at her mom’s house this week,” he replies.

And thank goodness for that. I love spending time with Abbie, but the last thing I want is to drag her into this mess. It’s bad enough I’ve got her dad tangled up in my web of deceit.

My eyes drop down to my hands. There, they latch on to the ring on my left hand. Cubic zirconia looks surprisingly real—if you don’t look too closely. But I don’t have the money to waste on a real ring, and I certainly wasn’t going to ask Gabe to get me one.

I know you’re already lying to strangers on my behalf, but can you buy me a diamond ring, too?

“Can I get you both a drink?” Kevin asks.

Gabe sets a hand on the small of my back. “I’m alright with water,” he says. “Foster?”

“Hmm?” My head snaps up. “Oh, I’m good with water, too. Thank you.”

While Kevin heads to the kitchen, Dana leads us into the living room. Scratch that, asittingroom. There doesn’t seem to be much life in here.

The furniture is pristine, as if it were delivered from the store today. Merely stepping into the room feels like an affront to it. I might have even retreated if not for Gabe’s steady presence at my side, his hand guiding me forward.

Gabe and I sit side by side on a tan-coloured love seat, leaving the couch for Dana and Kevin.

“You have a lovely home,” I say to Dana, to break the awkward silence. Everything about this situation isawkward.

“Thank you,” she replies. “We were lucky it came on the market when it did. Serendipitous that we were leaving Kip Island at the time.”