I go back to eating, dreading the moment Chance decides to finally speak up. The only thing I’m grateful for is that in two weeks, I’d be out of Magic Island and never have to see these kind people I lied to ever again.
But dinner’s getting to a close and Chance isn’t saying a word.
I’m enjoying my ice cream and cake dessert and giving him the side eye he completely misses.
“Chance?” I say finally, pressing out a smile and moving my eyes in a way that says tell them, I hope.
His eyes dim. He gets it. Good.
I wait, the ice cream on my tongue turning to sawdust. I’m not sure how they’d react but I hope it won’t be yelling-level bad. I look around the table and I’m sure it won’t go that far. They’re nice people.
Chance clears his throat. He looks at me, and then scans the table. From Landon whose face is buried in his iPad, to Lucy who’s chatting with Baxter and Aunt Felicia who’s topping up Dan’s dessert plate.
It’s a struggle for him. He probably didn’t think it’d be hard.
I place my hand on his for support. When his warm fingers cover mine, I almost melt. We sat together all night but barely touched each other.
This feels good. Right.
NO.
It ends now.
Tell them, Chance.I plead with my eyes.
“Dad and… everyone.”
They all turn to him.
I hold my breath and keep my gaze down.
His fingers thread mine. “Maddie and I… we work together.”
Okay…
Sayso we cannot date.
“Baxter mentioned it.” Dan’s voice.
So we cannot date!
“Yeah, and it’s been great so far. She’s really competent at her job. In fact, she poked holes in Ramsey’s plans on her first day.”
“He’s always too cocky,” Dan says. “But you know, one in five of his attempts work so he stays on.”
Chance continues. “Of course. His recent campaign covering…”
I look up at Chance, my mouth threatening to hang loose. What the fuck? I thought he was going to say it and now he’s talking about work?
I poke his side with an elbow.
He huffs and looks my way. I eyeball him and he shrugs.Shrugs!
I press my mouth shut and face forward. Baxter’s looking between us, his eyes narrowed but I don’t care.
I’m mad at Chance for not following through and forcing us to continue this charade.
I’m mad I played along in the first place.
