Page 90 of Fauxmance

Case in point…

She held out her hands. "So, you and Hayden? How did that happen?"

I sighed. "Honestly, I don't know. We talked last Friday when we got stuck in the elevator during the power outage."

"Wait, wait," she said. "You two were stuck for hours in an elevator together?"

I nodded, and she groaned in response.

"That'swhy he didn't make it to dinner. I can't believe he didn't call me. Or actually"—she said to herself—"I can. Because it's Hayden, and my son is a steel trap who tells me nothing."

"Actually, both our phones died after a while, and there was no service anyway."

"I bet you told your mom when you got out."

I did.

Mom was there waiting when the elevator doors finally opened—but even if she hadn't been, I knew talking to her, hugging her, seeing her face was my top priority.

Dr. Moorehousenodded. "That's what I thought."

"I can't believe you're his mom," I said.

"I can't believe my son's your fake boyfriend," she said back.

I winced. "Yeah, about that, I'm so sorry. We really aren't trying to hurt anyone."

She crossed her arms. "You mentioned that during your appointment. Why are you doing this?"

"Hayden just wanted to make his grandma happy, show her he's changed."

"And this was the only way to do that?"

I shrugged.

"Did Hayden come up with this, or did you?" The doctor held up a hand a moment later. "Wait, don't answer that. I already know. This has my son's name written all over it."

She pinched the bridge of her nose, looking stressed.

"You two have put me in a very difficult position."

"I know," I said. "Again, I'm sorry. Hayden just thought if we faked a relationship for a while it would show Mrs. Davenport that he's more mature, serious about something."

A beat passed.

"If you want to out us, I completely understand. But…Hayden seems to have a lot riding on this."

"Magnolia, you still haven't answered my question," she said. "Why areyoudoing this?"

"Because Hayden asked me to," I said simply. "And I care about him."

It was the truth. I did care, and I didn't feel like lying to my therapist.

Dr. Moorehouse, the woman I'd been seeing for years, studied my face. I couldn't read her expression for anything.

"So," I asked, "are you going to tell everyone?"

After a few seconds, she slowly shook her head.

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