Page 35 of Kicking it with my Fake Fiancé
I smirked, unable to hold back. “One blow, huh?”
He smiled, just a little, and shook his head. “You know what I mean.”
I took a deep breath and nodded. “I do. But I don’t think that’s going to happen. Not with us. We care about each other too much. I think… I think it’s worth trying.”
Matty nodded, just a little. “Ja. I do too.”
Chapter Eighteen
Matty
Theweekspassedquickly.I spent most of my free time with Jared’s friends or holed up in what I was beginning to think of asourhouse, working on various pieces I was committed to. In the early mornings, after his shows ended, Jared often called, buzzing with energy. He wasn’t due to return for another week or so and I’d put off spending time with his family long enough. At least, that’s what Charlie, our American producer fromDestination Love,told me. I knew it needed to happen, but I was so worried his parents wouldn’t welcome me as fondly as Mamma had welcomed Jared, or worse, they’d reject our marriage altogether. I’d had a good relationship with them when I’d lived under their roof in high school, but I was terrified of their rejection. I knew my fears were irrational, but with Jared and his family having a tenuous relationship, I worried they wouldn’t remember me quite as fondly.
Charlie arranged for me to join them for a meal, both of Jared’s parents along with his sister, at a nearby restaurant. On a Saturday two weeks before Jared’s return, I headed to Lily, a brunch restaurant in the heart of Port Grandlin, to reunite with my exchange family, soon to be my in-laws.
Outside of Lily, Charlie smiled wide as I walked up, wearing jeans, a black crew neck shirt, and a dark blazer. “Matt! You look great! And right on time, too. This is Heidi, our camera operator.”
Heidi nodded from behind the shoulder-mounted camera she held. “Nice to meet you.”
“Thanks. You too,” I said. Nerves raced through me, my stomach doing a flip as Charlie stepped forward to hand the mic pack to me.
“You know what to do with this?”
I nodded and took the pack from her. “Ja. Thanks.” As I wired myself up, I glanced up at Charlie. “Any specific directions for this?”
Another smile from her. “You’re getting used to this, I can tell. Okay, they’re already seated. I want you to hug them when you get inside. Do what feels natural, but it should be a warm welcome. Today’s tension is coming from the fact thatyou’regoing to be the one to break the news to them about the engagement. You only have a little over sixty days to get married, and you need their support. Lean into that. Okay?”
Heat drained from my face and my stomach sank. “They don’t know we’re engaged?”
Charlie shook her head and adjusted my collar. “Not yet, but they will soon enough.”
“Why didn’t Jared tell them?”
She shrugged. “We asked him not to. Have to amp up the drama somehow.”
“How are they going to react?”
The smile on her face gave nothing away. “Time will tell.”
We made our way into the restaurant, Heidi following close behind me. It was easy to spot Jared’s family. I recognized them immediately, not the least of all because Jared’s sister Grace looked just like him, and he bore a strong resemblance to his parents, Peter and Debra, as well. Besides that, they were at a table distanced from the rest of the mostly full restaurant, and as I approached, Heidi swooped toward them.
Debra was the first to spot me, and she stood, a brilliant smile on her face. “Matthias! It’s so good to see you again!”
I stepped forward and embraced her. “You can just call me Matt.”
Peter reached out and shook my hand firmly. “Well, Matt, it’s nice to see you. You’ve changed a lot since we last saw you.”
Grace chuckled. “Dad, that was something like fifteen years ago.”
“Exactly,” Peter said with a smile.
We took our seats, me next to Grace, with Peter and Debra across from us.
“Tell us everything you’ve been doing.” Debra leaned forward to listen. “Jared tells us you’re a writer.”
“It’s not quite that thrilling. I mean, yes, I am a writer, but it’s more travel writing than novels or anything. I take pictures and write about places I’ve been. That said, I try to make my pieces more about the people I meet and the unique lives of those people, rather than just about where to find the best beer or the hot nightlife.”
“That sounds amazing,” Grace said.
