Page 77 of Vows We Never Made

“Um, no,” I say.

“You took Ares, right? Ethan shot me down when I offered to watch him. Mom loves the doggo more than us.” Margot rolls her eyes even though she loves Ares just as much.

“Yep, he was there, licks and all. He got plenty of sushi.”

She beams like the sun.

“Cool. It sounds like everything went great, then. Did Mom drop any hints about wedding planning?” Margot gives a snort that sounds bitter.

“No, nothing that easy,” I say, running my finger down the inventory list—all on paper. Mr. Sneed never did digital. He wouldn’t even put up a Google business listing. “Actually, my mom decided to join us.”

“What? Yourmom?She invited herself?” Amused, Margot drops the book she was holding.

“Yup.”

“Oh, man.” She pulls a sympathetic face. “I take it back. Things were not great. How did you guys survive?”

“Well, obviously she thinks the thing with Ethan is real, so we were covered there. And she was busy sucking up to your parents about eighty percent of the time.”

The memory makes me want to shrivel up like a prune.

“I mean, it could’ve been worse. Mom probably loved that part.” Margot shrugs. “She’s a big fan of anyone who’s a fan of her.”

“Yeah. Your folks were polite enough—in their own way.”

So was Mom, reminding me not to eat too many carbs. Or, really, any carbs at all.

My skin tingles at the memory of Ethan reaching under the table to take my hand, shutting Mom up with one headshot comment.

And then later, on the beach, telling me I’d have to be crazy to think there’s anything wrong with my weight.

“Hmm, you’re doing that again. I thought it was just the books at first, but no.” Margot squints at me.

“Doing what?”

Margot bends down and peers at me closer, narrowing her eyes to slits. “Blushing, Hattie Sage. Why?”

Ugh, nothing gets past her beady little eyes.

“No, I’m not. It’s just the heat from juggling all these books. How many boxesarethere?” I huff an exaggerated breath.

“Girl, you’re about as white as you come. A blush on you is as obvious as fireworks and you didn’t go red until we started talking about the big meet and greet.” She leans her hip against the desk. “So what happened?”

I decide to feed her a partial truth.

“Mom was… Well, she was Mom. You know how she is. She didn’t want me eating too much and turning into a pumpkin in front of my perfect new family.”

“Holy shit, right there?” Margot’s mouth twists sourly. “I hope you told her where to stick it.”

A burst of humiliation washes over me.

Margot wouldn’t have hesitated clapping back at her mother, but their relationship has always been different.

Or maybe I’m just a giant pushover, at least when it comes to my mother.

I know it comes from a place of love and concern, which makes it harder.

For all her obnoxious faults, she does love me.