Page 10 of Pretend for Me

Who isn’t?

[Dean Meyerchanged the group name toHairless Kitty Lovers Anonymous]

[Darian Meyerhas left the chat]

[Dean Meyerhas addedDarian Meyerto the chat]

Garrett Meyer

He is being rather quiet all of a sudden. I’m taking silence as agreement.

Dev Menon

I’m quiet because I’m regretting the day I met you idiots at Hudson’s daughter’s wedding. And of the eight billion people in the world, fate decidedyouwere going to be my best friends.

[Dev Menonchanged the group name toFive Schlongs Hen Party]

Dean Meyer

Anyone else notice how he tried to distract us with that sappy speech and dodge admitting the truth? He totally likes this hairless chick.

[Dev Menonhas left the chat]

five

dev

It’s My Only Wish

Ipinch the bridge of my nose in the back of my chauffeured car as the familiar streets to my parents’ home float by. The morning’s shareholders’ meeting replays in my mind. It started off as more of a scathing critique of our disappointing quarterly earnings than a discussion in any way.

Thankfully, I managed to navigate the barrage of questions by highlighting our additional investments into research and development of driverless technology, justifying the less-than-stellar results and subsequently, easing some of the tension. Still, it wasn’t the most uplifting news to deliver.

The car comes to a stop, and Ralph, our family’s chauffeur of nearly twenty years, steps out to open my door, nodding as I exit. His usually stoic expression has a hint of humor in it today. “A hat today, sir?”

Suppressing my groan, I trudge toward the house, clutching the Taro milk tea with boba pearls in my grasp. “Don’t ask.”

Taking a moment to breathe in the warm September air, I mentally prepare myself for a conversation with my dad. He may have taken the next few months—the remaining time she has left on this earth—to spend with his terminally-ill wife ofthirty-five years, but I could bet my entire savings account that he hadn’t missed tuning into our shareholders’ meeting. And I’d double down on that bet that I won’t be getting any words of praise from him about how things unfolded, either.

But he’s not the reason I’m here, nor is he the reason I feel like I’m suffocating even in the open air.

I’m here for the one woman, besides my little sister, who I love immeasurably and beyond words—my mother.

A woman I would trade places with in a heartbeat if I could.

Stepping into the spacious foyer, I find Deena walking back inside from Mom’s rose garden, wearing a pair of long-sleeved pajamas adorned with a boba tea graphic. It’s my ten-year-old sister’s latest obsession and her most recent personality. There isn’t a boba tea shop in town she hasn’t visited or a flavor she hasn’t tried.

Her face lights up, her long dark brown hair flying behind her as she rushes toward me. “Is that for me?”

I fake a scoff, bringing the cup closer to me. “No, it’s for me, hence why I have it.”

Her fists find her small hips. “You don’t even like boba. You said it felt like you were drinking fish eggs. Also, no one uses ‘hence’ anymore.”

“Firstly, I happen to love drinking fish eggs, and secondly, ‘hence’ is a fantastic word that deserves a comeback.”

She shakes her head in exasperation, grabbing the cup and taking a long sip. “Ahh! Just what I needed this morning.” Glancing over her shoulder, she eyes the backdoor. “You’re not telling Mom, are you? You know how she gets about me having so much sugar.”

I pretend to think about it, rubbing my chin while avoiding the way my throat constricts.

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