Page 55 of Ten Rules for Faking It
“There’s always room to do better. I want the station to reach another level. When it does, I’ll know I’ve done what I came to do.”
The answer unsettled something inside of her. What he came to do? What did that even mean?
Her mom came over with one of her aunts in tow. “Honey, why are you hiding out in the corner? Hello there. Who is this young man?”
Subtle, Mom. Like a baseball bat to the head.“This is myboss,Chris Jansen. Chris, this is my mom, Jessica, and my aunt Jules.” Her aunt and mother were practically twins in the looks department but couldn’t be more different personality-wise.
Aunt Jules leaned in for a hug, and Everly caught the scent of her floral perfume. She and Uncle Colt had been married two years longer than her parents but spent all that time living in the same household. If Everly was going to aspire to have a relationship, it’d be theirs. It was solid and real. Never in the kind of flux that the outside world could watch.
“Happy belated, sweetie. Heard the day of wasn’t so awesome. I’m sorry about that,” her aunt said. She shook Chris’s hand after Jessica did. “Nice to meet you.”
“Yes,verynice to meet you,” her mother added.
Everly closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, her mother was eyeing Chris in a way she’d rather her mother never look at a man.
“Nice to meet you both as well. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to grab some food. Everly, would you like anything?”
She shook her head, that peanut butter feeling making her mouth sticky. When he walked away, her mother stepped closer. “I had no idea your boss was so yummy.”
Every spark she’d thought she felt fizzled like a watered-down firecracker.
“Mom. Ew.” Yes, it was a ten-year-old’s response, but therewere so many times, in her parents’ company, that’s how she felt. Being with them transported her back to a time where she had little say over anything in her life. Everly wrapped her arms around herself, tapping her fingers against her biceps, hoping it came off as matching the beat of the music.
“What?” Her mother’s jaw dropped. “You don’t think he’s handsome?”
Aunt Jules chuckled. “I think she was referring more to you commenting on it, cougar.”
Everly laughed, appreciating her aunt. “Yup.”
Her mom poked her in the arm. “There’s nothing wrong with me being able to acknowledge a good-looking man.”
As long as that was all it ever was, Everly didn’t care. She just didn’t want details or to share these kinds of conversations with her mother.
Her mom clapped her hands together. “Let’s do presents.”
Oh yeah. Let’s hit every single circle.Her motherknewshe hated opening presents in front of people. It completely flustered her even when it was just family.
“Mom. Let’s just do yours. Please? I don’t want to take away from your day.”
Her mom squeezed her shoulders, leaned her head against Everly’s. “I don’t mind sharing my day with you. Let’s do it together.”
Everly’s stomach swirled, spinning out of control. The sensation reminded her of the little tops that fell out of the piñata so long ago, bouncing into a twirl on the cement below the branch of the tree. She’d watched them spin over and over again, amazed at how they’d created a toy to match the sensations happening inside of her.
Her aunt patted Everly’s arm, giving her an understanding smile. “Jessie, let’s just do yours.”
Hands on her hips, her mom tried to give Everly an “I raised you better” glare. “People will want to see you open your gifts.”
Everly had an argument ready. She opened her mouth andstarted to speak because she was thirty years old and didn’t have to open presents on her fake birthday if she didn’t want to.
But her father came out to the porch banging a pot with a wooden spoon.
“Lots of food, so make sure you all eat,” he boomed when people quieted. He was no stranger to speaking in front of people. “I’d like to say a few words.”
He looked over to where Everly, her mother, and her aunt stood, and though she loved her father, her stomach twisted with the idea of him turning the spotlight their way. Stacey, Chris, and Tara watched from the other side of the yard.
“I have had the pleasure of having some wonderful women in my life. But no two make me happier or prouder than my beautiful wife and lovely daughter. I love you both with all my heart.”
Everly’s eyes watered. Her mom put a hand to her chest and made a humming sound. Her dad put the pot and spoon on the food table and picked up a bottle of beer. “To my girls. On their birthdays and every day.”
