Page 19 of The Mistletoe Bluff
“Well, firstly, I’m checking that you entered the contest like you said you would.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him look at me again.
Contest?
“Not yet.”
His father’s sigh crackled through the speakers. “The deadline is getting close, Oliver. I’d hate to see you miss out on such an opportunity.”
Oliver’s jaw twitched. “Isn’t it frowned upon,Dad, seeing as I’m your son and you’re one of the judges?”
His dad scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous. If you’re the best photographer, it doesn’t matter who your family is.”
At the mention of photography, every alarm inside me started going off.
There was no way…he couldn’t possibly be talking about the very same contest that Elsie wanted me to enter…right? Surely the universe wasn’tthatcruel to pit me against Oliver Lewisagain.
I had to be sure, so I pulled my phone out and started Googling, tuning out their conversation. My stomach dropped to my feet when I came across the list of judges for theRising Star Photography Contest. I wasn’t sure what Oliver’s dad’s name was, but there was someone named Leander Lewis, and that was too big of a coincidence to ignore.
Great. Wonderful. I pinched the bridge of my nose. I thought I had a decent chance at winning a prize in the contest, but against Oliver? All my confidence evaporated at the thought of competing against him once again. And with his dad as one of the judges…did that mean my chances went from slim to none?
Could this get any worse?
“Do it tonight,” his dad ordered, breaking me out of my thoughts. “You’ve wasted enough time already.”
Oliver’s teeth were likely screaming from how hard he was clenching his jaw.
“Lastly, I need to know if you’re coming to Christmas dinner, Oliver.”
“I’m always there, aren’t I?”
A heavy sigh crackled. “Alone, I presume?”
I risked a glance at Oliver. Every inch of his body was coiled tight like a snake, and his chest rose and fell in too quick a cadence. Why was his dad being such a turd? Was this how he always was?
For a moment, I allowed myself to feel sorry for Oliver. No one deserved to be treated poorly by their parents.
Oliver’s hesitation was a second too long, and his dad’s disappointed sigh filled the car again.
Then the most idiotic, meddlesome idea I’d ever had popped into my brain, and it prompted me to shout, “Actually, he’s bringing me!”
Oliver’s head snapped to the side, pinning me with wide, horror-filled eyes.
“Who’s that, Oliver?” his father demanded.
“I’m Maya,” I answered in a bright, cheery voice when Oliver’s mouth continued to open and close like a fish gasping for water. “Oliver’s girlfriend.”
In the span of half a second, I had concocted a scheme that would get me close to Oliver’s dad and gain me an upper hand in the contest—or at least a fighting chance among all the other entrants.
The only problem was I would have to be around Oliver alotmore. My stomach churned at the thought. But surely it wouldn’t be so bad. It was a necessary evil—being around my enemy to increase my chances of bettering my future.
It was a necessary—and worthwhile—sacrifice.
My spinning thoughts forced the words to spill out of my mouth before I could think them through. And yes, I realized that might make me a terrible person, but I was starting to feel desperate.
And, though I didn’t like to admit it, I hated both the slimy, arrogant sound of his dad’s voice, and the cruel way he spoke to Oliver. I may not like the man in the car next to me, but that didn’t mean that I wanted him treated badly, especially by his family.
So, as usual, my big mouth got me in trouble, and now I wasn’t just a date but Oliver Lewis’s fake girlfriend.
