Page 66 of Under the Influence

Except I’ve been lying for weeks right to her face! What kind of person will she think I am?

Seeing Lola up close, I begin to spiral. She can’t stop smiling. That’s why Duke and I waited to tell people. Has there been enough time? Should I cancel tomorrow’s dinner? Will I ever stop lying to my pa?

As the drama builds inside me, I start crying. Tuesday runs over. My brothers are worried. I hear Pa-Donovan call out to me. Everyone is looking at me, thinking I’ve gone insane. If I was more myself, I’d tell them to frick off and leave me be. But I feel guilty and lost.

With my eyes filled with tears, I don’t see Duke coming until he’s next to me. His lips cover mine, silencing my panic.

Suddenly, I’m okay again. I can think straight. I remember why I’ve been lying for weeks.Duke is mine.

I hear Ike’s confused voice announcing how he might tackle Duke to stop our kiss. Wrapping my arms around my dream guy, I don’t want to face what’s beyond the heat I feel for this one man.

Duke ends the kiss and stares down at me. I wait nervously for his reaction. He mostly seems relieved.

The words “I’ve had a bad day,” spill out of me. I’m afraid to share more, yet the additional secret weighs me down.

Duke strokes my hair as his beautiful blue eyes study me. “This wasn’t how I wanted to announce our relationship, but I couldn’t watch you cry.”

“Because you love me?” I ask in a whisper.

Duke’s smile holds no hesitancy. He’s a man who has the answers. With my confidence shot lately, I embrace the certainty in him.

Our gazes hold as people react to our kiss. I don’t know what to say. Duke might be nervous, too, but he only smiles at me.

Tuesday begins clapping. Bullet Train follows her lead. Roxie joins in since she’s a team player. The clapping grows louder, yet I also hear my brothers asking each other if they knew. I feel my pa moving closer.

“No more secrets,” Duke tells me before yanking his gaze free and looking around at the people either clapping or muttering disapprovingly.

Lola and Clover stare at him. Val stands next to the women, nodding and smiling like he always knew.

My gaze flashes to my father on Uncle Court’s deck. Pa-Donovan doesn’t hide his irritation. He glances at Ma-Journey nearby. She shrugs, and he frowns harder.

“Edith,” Otto says and steps closer, “do I need to drop this guy?”

Taking Duke’s hand, I smile at my brother. “Duke is my nerdy accountant.”

My brother narrows his gaze until he looks asleep. He’s likely replaying our every conversation over the last few weeks. Otto starts to shake his head disapprovingly, stops to look at Ike, realizes our brother wasn’t in on the secret, enjoys a moment of relief, and then returns to shaking his head.

Otto declares, “I don’t approve.”

“Okay,” I say and shrug.

Otto glances at Ike again. “Help me tag-team her.”

Ike frowns at our older brother. “Edith was crying. Now, she isn’t. Let’s not tempt fate here.”

“Wuss.”

“Now, now,” Betty says and takes Otto’s hand. “Edith is a grown woman. Let her enjoy her fun.”

When Otto turns to his wife to complain, she gives him a look that means they’ll be plotting together later. Realizing he’s got an ally, Otto lifts his chin arrogantly and stops bitching.

Duke guides me closer to Lola and Clover who look happy yet confused.

“Why not say anything?” Lola asks immediately.

“I told you how it might cause drama,” Duke explains and sighs. “I wanted you to have a chance in the spotlight. But I can’t sneak around anymore.”

Lola looks up at Val and then at her pa before focusing on me. “I won’t call you ‘mom,” she says in an overly earnest tone.

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