Page 14

My folks were warm and genuine, but they were also loyal. They witnessed firsthand how devastated I was when Harlow left me. I felt a smidge of relief that my family wasn’t holding any grudges.

I might have been almost thirty years old, but the people in this house meant everything to me. And seeing Harlow with my mom filled me with emotions I wasn’t ready to process or understand. For a brief second, I almost forgot that this was all fake.

We sat around the table, stuffed from dinner, while Harlow answered my family’s endless questions. Mom grinned like she had just won the lottery, and Dad fired off question after question about her life in Manhattan.

Mom sighed dreamily and clasped her hands under her chin. “I always hoped you two kids would find your way back together again.”

Harlow smiled politely. “Thank you for saying that and for welcoming me back and making me feel at home.”

Mom patted her hand while Dad poured her a cup of coffee. “You will always be part of this family.”

I cleared my throat, figuring this was the right time to announce our engagement.

“I’m glad you feel that way, Ma, because Harlow and I have news.”

The room went silent. I felt Harlow fidgeting next to me.

Hayes was stuffing a chocolate chip cookie in his mouth. “What kind of news?”

I grabbed Harlow’s hand under the table. “Harlow and I are engaged.”

Hayes choked on his cookie while Tuck’s head whipped to mine. “I’m sorry… you’re what?”

“You’re engaged?” Mom squealed as Dad dropped into his seat.

“Am I missing something here?” Tuck seared me with a look as if I’d lost my mind.

Harlow’s hand was cold and clammy. I brushed the top of her knuckles with my thumb. My eyes begged her to follow my lead.

I probably should have eased them into it, complimented Mom on her dinner, or talked about the weather, instead of just ripping off the Band-Aid. But it was important for me to tell them before word got out. Which wouldn’t be long.

I straightened in my seat. “I’m sure this is a shock.”

“That’s an understatement,” Tuck sputtered out.

Harlow glanced at me like she was debating on stabbing me with a fork or bolting toward the door.

Dad leaned back in his chair, arms folded, and eyebrows raised in doubt. “She’s been in town for a week, and you proposed already?”

Hayes was grinning from ear to ear like he knew I was up to something. “So, when is the big day?”

“We don’t have one yet,” I said quickly. “We are still figuring things out.”

Dad didn’t move. Didn’t smile. Simply stared. “You’re serious?”

“Yes,” I said, noticing that not one person sitting at the table had congratulated us yet. I suddenly second-guessed my decision.

Tuck leaned forward, clasping his hands in front of him. “When did this happen?”

My pulse was too loud in my ears to think straight. “Yesterday.”

He leaned forward and narrowed his eyes. “So, let me get this straight. It’s been five years since you two last saw one another. She’s recently coming off the heels of a very public breakup, and now you guys are magically engaged?”

I rubbed a hand along the back of my neck, which was breaking out in a sweat. “You all are familiar with our history. I figured we had already wasted enough time. Why waste another day? Life is too short.”

Dad looked between us. “I can understand that, but what’s the rush? Why not date for a little while to make sure you both are compatible?”

“Because this is what I want, Dad.”

He scratched the side of his head while Tuck muttered something about this being convenient.

Mom seemed to be the only one excited for us. “I don’t care how fast this is. This is the best news.”

“Thanks, Ma.” I smiled and tried to ignore the tension in the room.

Dad rested his elbows on the arms of his chair. “This is what you really want?”

“Yes,” I said without hesitation. My gaze darted around the room, never landing on one spot.

Silence fell over the table. My black T-shirt felt like it was sticking to my back.

Dad watched us like a hawk. “All right,” he said, not looking too convinced. “If you’re happy, then that’s all we want for you. I’m just shocked. This seems sudden. You both understand that marriage is a big commitment, right?”

Harlow did her best to give him a reassuring smile. We both knew that question was directed toward her. They were probably worried about her leaving again. They weren’t the only ones.

“Dad, we wouldn’t take this step unless we were ready.”

Dad nodded and glanced at Harlow. “Please, don’t take any of this personally. This is just sudden.”

She pulled out of my grip and placed her hands on her lap. “I understand. Really, I do. You have every right to be concerned.”

That seemed to satisfy him, but I could tell it still bothered her. Her shoulders dipped, and her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. They were subtle gestures, but I knew her well enough, especially with the way she went quiet.

Hayes picked up on it, too. He teased her once or twice, trying to get a laugh out of her, but I could tell, with her eyes darting toward the door and with the way Tuck and Dad kept staring at me, that it would take some time.

Things would be awkward for a while, but my family would come around.

Now that the proverbial cat was out of the bag, I should have felt relief. Some type of victory, but a pile of guilt hit me square in the chest.

I was lying to the people I loved. I wasn’t proud of what I was doing, but I had my reasons, and if it meant keeping her out of her father’s grasp, then it was worth it.

Because, despite everything, I still cared about her. Probably always would.

We managed to make it through the rest of the dinner without further interrogation.

Harlow sat beside me, quiet and trying to fake her way through this.

She handled my family like a pro. When I reached for her hand again under the table, and she wrapped her fingers around mine, I had the urge to hold on to her for just a little while longer.