Page 86 of Merry Mayhem
She’s right. I was so intent on studying Thea that I just now realize everyone else has thrown at least one gift, if not more, into the boxes.
I toss a box. It goes in on my first try.
“You seem upset,” I say as Thea’s second gift bounces off the edge of the box.
“Not now, Josh, seriously.”
“Promise me we’ll talk about this later.”
“I’m not really sure what there is to talk about. Violet is back, you’re supposed to be her boyfriend. The entire town believes that, so you have to play the part. End of discussion.”
“But we’re going to talk to her about it.”
Thea suddenly turns to me, one hand on her hip. “You kissed her.”
We’re keeping our voices low so no one can hear what we’re saying, especially over the general cheering and laughter as people try to toss their smaller gifts into the big gift boxes.
“I did not,” I say. “She kissed me.”
“You kissed her back.”
“Iletherkiss me,” I admit. “But what was I supposed to do? I couldn’t really react any other way right then.”
Thea turns back toward the box and tosses her smaller gift. It goes in this time.
“That’s my point,” she says.
I turn to her. “What is?”
“Her being back and you kissing her in front of everyone, her being so excited to see you, her recovery and return here in the middle of Merry Mayhem, it’s all just solidified this story that you're her boyfriend. My family loves you, and they’ve been building you up to her. The town loves you, and they’re so excited that you’re Violet’s boyfriend.”
“Won’t they be just as excited that I’myourboyfriend?”
“When we break my sister’s heart? Are you kidding?”
“But that’s not going to happen. Violet and I aren’t together. There’s no heart to be broken.”
“But now she wants to be with you!”
I take a step closer to Thea. “I will talk to her. I will tell her what happened and how I feel about you. Then we will telleveryonethe truth.”
“That’s going to make her look so bad in front of Sam,” Thea argues. “You’re here to help her get through having her ex here with his new fiancée,” she adds. “How is it going to help her when she has to admit that you were herfakeboyfriend?”
Okay, that’s fair. “What do you want to do?” I ask. “I can’t change how I feel about you. I don’t want to be with Violet.”
“I don’t know, Josh,” she says. “I don’t think there is a way to fix this.”
My heart thuds hard in my chest. I step closer again. “Don’t say that. That’s ridiculous. Nothing is actually going on with Violet and me. We’ll just wait till Sam leaves town?—”
“That will build up Violet’s hopes. She wants to try dating you for real.”
“That’s up to me too, Thea,” I say, frowning. “We’ll let her in on the truth. Even if we wait for Sam to leave town, we have to tell Violet the truth.”
“But Sam will eventually find out.”
“Find out what?” I am beyond frustrated. I want to grab her, hug her, kiss her, and remind her of the feelings between us.
“That Violet’s boyfriend broke up with her for her sister! That’s probably worse than her not having a boyfriend here at all.”
