Page 18 of Fake Christmas Date
This isn’t good. Something is very wrong if they’re both this stunned. "Did someone die?" I ask softly.
Mom lifts her laptop and marches into the living room with it, thrusting the screen in my face.
Dammit.
Her glare could pierce concrete. "You’reengaged?” From her tone of voice, you'd think Mom had just discovered I murdered somebody.
Shit.Think fast. I don’t want to lie to her. But maybe one more little white lie will balance things out and make it okay?
"You proposed to a girl we hadn't even met yet?” Mom's volume is still at a level that there's no way Emma is still asleep. "You only mention you're bringing someone home the day before you arrive. Then I find out that you got engaged to her at her company Christmas party? Just how long have you been seeing her, anyway, young man?"
Dad takes the laptop from her hands and carefully backs away.
"I was just searching Emma’s name and yours to see if there were any photos of the two of you I could send the gals in my book club who were asking about you,” she continues. “And then I find out you're engaged. Why didn't you tell me immediately? Why? Why wouldn't you share something like this with your mother?"
A shadow shifts in the hallway. Emma is on the stairs, probably too nervous to come into the room.
"Calm down, Mom. Please." I pat the couch cushion beside me, trying to smile. "Of course we were going to tell you. But we thought it would be nice to announce our engagement tonight at the Christmas Eve Eve Ball. You know – surrounded by family."
Mom’s expression completely shifts. She shrieks again, this time in delight as she claps her hands together. "Oh! Yes! And I can get the mayor to make an announcement!"
"No." My hands are already in the air in protest. "This is not the entire town's business. We don't want everyone descending on us."
Shit.Think faster.
"Emma is…a bit shy," I add quickly. "At her company party, she knew everyone. Here, she doesn’t. The entire town doesn't need to know our business until the wedding – which might be years away. So tonight we were just going to announce it to the immediate family. You and Dad, Josh and Sadie. That's it."
My gaze darts to the hallway, and I catch Emma giving me a quick thumbs up.
"Everything has happened very quickly between us,” I continue. “Things are wonderful, but we don't want the added pressure of everyone in town knowing our business and asking a million questions. Is that okay?"
I turn from Mom to Dad, who yanks me to my feet and squashes the life out of me in a bear hug. "Both of my boys getting married to such nice girls." He flashes Mom one of his trademark expressions, halfway between a smile and a glare. "Hopefullytheydon't shriek like demons when they're excited, unlike a certain someone I know."
I force a laugh, hugging first him and then Mom, even as my head is spinning. This had better not scare Emma away. Although we share an incredible bond, talking about foreverfeels pretty ridiculous while we’re still getting to know each other.
Even though I already know in my gut that it's the truth.
We belong together.
13
EMMA
This is bad. Like, super bad.
It’s one thing to pretend to be Dylan’s date and supposed girlfriend for a few days over Christmas. It’s quite another to lie to his family.
Ugh.
Luckily, Dylan’s parents left the house fairly early this morning, and I managed to hide downstairs until they were gone.
Dylan and I end up bouncing around town all day again, popping into different restaurants and cafés for their different specialties. Everywhere we go, it seems like old friends, his parents’ friends, or neighbors have already heard that he brought “such a nice girl” home for the holidays.
Yet again, we end up talking about everything under the sun, and really connecting on some important points. Like someday we want kids who are more into books than their phones. That we want to settle permanently in Kingsville. That we both want to live cozy lives, and learn how to cook fancier meals for when the mood strikes us.
These are the sort of conversations people would have if they were really engaged, before they walk down the aisle. It all makes me feel even more twisted and guilty.
As we drive past the huge park for the third time, I ask, "Your mom seems to miss you a lot. You honestly don't ever want to move back here to Holly Valley?"
