Page 61 of Fake Out Hearts

The thought makes me wince like someone punched all the air out of my lungs—because that’s exactly what Shawn called me. But he doesn’t know anything about what Theo and I have, and neither does anyone else, so that’s all that should matter.

Then again, we seem to be having a hell of a time maintaining the line between what’s real and fake lately ourselves.

I can’t stand getting lost in my spiral like this, so I decide to do something with my hands while I wait for Theo to come back. I step into the en suite bathroom, run the water in the sink, and splash it against my face repeatedly, until my face is so cold it tingles. I’m toweling off when Theo comes back into the bedroom holding a pair of jeans, a sweater, and my coat.

“It was the best I could do in a hurry,” he says. “I hope it’s okay.”

I can’t help but smile, because whether he knows it or not, he grabbed my favorite sweater. “Yeah, this is perfect. Thank you.”

“You alright?” he asks, studying me carefully.

I give him a shaky smile. “I’m nervous, but I’ll be fine.”

“I’m sorry again. Take your time getting ready, I’ll keep my parents busy.”

“Okay,” I say and take the clothes from him.

He hesitates for a second, then leans forward to kiss my forehead.

“You’re gonna do great with them. They already like you,” he assures me, then heads back downstairs to take Milo outside.

I take his advice and use as much time as I can getting dressed and straightening my bed head. I search every drawer in the bathroom for a brush but come up empty-handed, so I guess it’s going to be my fingers doing the work.

I check my reflection in the mirror, decide I look presentable enough, and leave the bathroom. Just as my feet touch the stairs,I hear Theo come back inside with Milo, who barks their arrival. I hover at the top of the staircase, listening to Theo talking to his parents about where to go to eat, and can’t help feeling like the outsider I am.

“You ready?” Theo calls up when he notices my feet on the stairs.

I jump a little at having been caught eavesdropping, then hurry down the steps. “Yup! Coming!”

We leave the condo and pile into Theo’s car, and he rests his hand on my leg as he puts the car in drive. I smile at him and place my hand on his, then catch Anne beaming at us in the rearview mirror.

“There’s a great local place nearby called Daybreak Diner,” Theo says to the whole car. “I’m pretty sure I’ve taken you guys there once before.”

“It sounds familiar, but I can’t remember. My memory isn’t what it used to be,” John says, and Anne rolls her eyes, chuckling. It must be a running joke between them.

“Well, I’ve never been, so let’s just pretend it’s new for all of us then,” I say, and Theo’s smile widens as he nods in approval.

When we get to the restaurant a few minutes later, I realize it’s not some hole-in-the-wall diner like the name suggests. It’s an upper-end, hipster kind of place with rustic, barnyard-meets-converted-warehouse aesthetics. And when I’m seated next to Theo in a booth with a menu, I can’t help noticing all the callouts to farm fresh, non-GMO ingredients.

“It’s starting to come back to me now,” John says as he looks around the restaurant. “I think it was several years ago, but I remember this place.”

“Yeah, it’s been a minute since we were here, Dad,” Theo says. The waitress arrives, and Theo orders a round of coffees for everyone. When she’s gone, Anne turns her focus back to me.

“So, tell us a little bit more about yourself, Becca.”

Suddenly, I feel like I’m on a job interview. And I guess in some ways, I am. I laugh nervously, unsure where to start. “Well, what would you like to know?”

“Theo told us you’re Canadian. What brought you to the States?”

That’s a much more loaded question than she realizes, and I don’t know how to answer it. Thankfully, Theo steps in.

“Her incredible dancing talent,” he says, patting my leg under the table. “Seriously, she’s got moves. She makes me look like a two-by-four in comparison.”

“Please.” I laugh.

“No, really. Tell them about our little dance lesson the other night.”

I’m assuming he means for me to leave out the part where we almost tore each other’s clothes off again, so I tell his parents about his two left feet and leave it at that.

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