Page 11 of Right With You
Yes. I did. I’d decided. I wouldn’t walk this back.
“No problem. What… can I do for you?”
She crossed her arms and waited—not exactly in a defensive position but certainly not open. Not warm like she had been with her friends.
“I need to tell you something that will seem strange.”
She blinked. “Okay. Go ahead.”
“My… past. It’s… particular. And my family… is also particular.” I could practically hear Kenny jeering at me.
Way to go, man. Way to really lay out the truth of the matter!
Her brow furrowed. “Okay.”
She drew the word out, clearly confused about why I was telling her any of this. We’d hardly spoken, let alone about family dynamics.
Fair enough and exactly why I needed to cut the dramatic vaguery and get to the point.
“I don’t know how to put this delicately, so if you don’t mind, I’d just like to tell you,” I said, evaluating her with every word that came from my mouth.
Her defenses were up, but not sky high like they could be. She was curious. “That’s a good plan because I have no idea what’s going on.”
I exhaled through my nose, gut clenching tighter, and laid it out for her. “My family wants me to marry a woman from New York. It’s a complex situation. But I do not want that, and in order to avoid their pressure to do so, I have told them I’m engaged—or about to be.”
She blinked.
“To you,” I added, finally telling the whole truth.
Her jaw dropped a bit, and her eyes darted from side to side, then her mouth clamped shut. She studied me as though to determine whether I was joking, and finally said, “To—to me.”
I nodded.
“And you said that because…”
There might be a time for full honesty on this subject, but for now I would tell her the most basic version. “You’re a kind person and you’re well-liked amongst your friends. People who know you speak highly of you. As far as I’m aware, you’re single. And obviously, you make a perfect donut.”
In the dim light of the spring evening, I could see her cheeks pink, even as she said, “You told your family we’re engaged because I make good donuts?”
I swore and rushed to explain. “I didn’t give them any reasons. I simply gave your name. It really doesn’t matter, but I need to tell you since it does involve you, or at least, your name.”
“Why—” She shook her head like she was dizzy before continuing. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what to say right now.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “Understandable. I’ve been an idiot. I’m sorry.”
“Wait! The other day, you said… You said you were my boyfriend. Was that?—”
“Nothing to do with this,” I rushed to clarify. “It just—” I shrugged, thinking of a way to tell her that claiming her like I had a right to would be what made her slimeball of an ex loosen his hooks into her. “I wanted him gone. We both did.”
She nodded. “Yes. We did.”
“It wasn’t a test run.”
At this, she guffawed. “It would be a good idea for all parties involved to be on the same page, no?”
I winced. “You’re right. My bad. That was spur of the moment, obviously.”
Though we weren’t just talking of her ex now. It was everything.
