Page 71 of Empty Net

“She said yes!” he exclaims, and the rest of the restaurant cheers.

Fox opens the box, revealing the hideous ring he can’t help but widen his eyes at. He gingerly tugs it from the silk-lined holder and slips it over my finger while I try not to wince at the sight of it. Once upon a time, when I was a very little girl and had much different thoughts about love and marriage, I dreamed of a ring. This thing? It’s nothing like what I wanted. A hundred tiny diamonds surround a squared, four-carat diamond in the center. Inside the band are four smaller stones, two on each side, resembling rubies.

If this were an alternate reality in which I actually wanted a ring on my finger, it would be something simple and nothing as extravagant as this. But this isn’t an alternate reality.Thisis my reality, my future, if I don’t find the courage to stand up to my parents.

“That was lovely, Arthur,” my mother says as he presses his lips to my cheek, then resumes his spot next to me. “What do you think of the ring? Gorgeous, isn’t it?”

He smiles at her, and if I didn’t know him better—which I definitely do—I’d believe it was genuine. “It’s lovely, Selene.”

She lifts her glass, grinning at him over the rim, seemingly pleased with his answer. “Now that that’s out of the way, we should discuss your engagement party.”

“Ourwhat?!”

My outburst has many people looking our way.

“Keep your voice down, dear,” my mother says, her eyes narrowing. “I don’t know why you’re so surprised. We hosted one for your sister. We’ll do the same for you.”

Ah, yes. Sadie’s engagement party. How could I forget? I got caught making out with one of her fiancé’s friends in the bathroom. If I think about it, it was the catalyst that set my parents off on thisYou need to settle downmission they’ve been on.

“Perhaps you’ll keep your clothes on at this one,” she says, taking another pull from her glass and emptying it in record time.

I glance over at Fox, whose brows are raised. I shrug, and he grins, giving me a subtle headshake, but there’s no judgment in his eyes. I mentally add that to the list of things I like about him. He doesn’t hold my past against me, which I certainly can’t say for my mother.

A server appears, refilling my mother’s glass as she asks, “What do we think about the spring? That’s a lovely time to host a party.”

“Mother, I?—”

“I think the spring is nice,” Fox agrees with her.

“Wonderful. We’ll plan the party for then. I’ll get my assistant on it, and we can get the invitations out ASAP. Hopefully, people will RSVP, even with such short notice.” She gives us a pointed look. “Now, would you like white or off-white linen?”

That’s how we spend the rest of the lunch, planning my upcoming engagement party with my fake fiancé, whom I’m now sleeping with.

How could this possibly get any worse?

“That was…something.”

I glare at Fox, though I’m not sure why.

Scratch that. I knowexactlywhy.

“I think the spring is nice.Really, Fox? That’s what you say to her?”

He winces. “I was just trying to be nice.”

“Stop being so nice!”

It comes out louder than intended. I think.

Honestly, I don’t know at this point. Maybe I mean it. Maybe I want him to stop being so nice, calm, accommodating, and helpful. I want him to tell me this is too much because itistoo much.

But he won’t. I know he won’t.

“Is that what you really want?” he asks quietly, navigating toward my apartment becauseof coursehe offered to drive me home after my mother, who insisted I ride there with her, decided she had better things to do than take me back home.

“No,” I say, just as quietly. “I love that you’re nice, Fox. It’s my favorite thing about you. I just… Isn’t this going too far? First a proposal and now a party?”

“I don’t know. Maybe? But what else are we supposed to do? Tell her no? I have a feeling she wouldn’t take that so well and would call us on our bullshit. You want this to work, right?”

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