“Then don’t defend me.”
“I want to defend you so my family doesn’t hate you.”
“Let them hate me.”
When I gave their relationship two more months, I was being generous.
“They won’t hate you if they get to know you. That’s why I want you to come so bad.”
“I get that, but you know my schedule the next few weeks.”
“I know you’re busy, but I thought you could take one night off to spend time with me and my family.”
“What do you call Thanksgiving Day? I’m spending time with you and your family then.”
“I call it a national holiday.”
“Yeah, so I’m coming. I’ll schmooze your family, eat the turkey, then get back to work.”
Brutal, Justin. Just brutal.
“So it’s turkey, mashed potatoes, then me. Glad to know how you prioritize things in your life.”
I crack a smile, liking Summer’s clipped reply.
“You’re being ridiculous.”
“And you’re being selfish.”
“I’m being selfish? You want me to put my entire business on hold, potentially lose thousands of buyers, so I can go to your family’s Turkey Stuff?” I can picture the exact look on Justin’s face right now, the I’m-right-so-why-can’t-you-be-more-mature-about-this expression I’ve seen many times during our own family arguments. “There are more important things than stuffing a turkey.”
I’m not sure what Justin is referring to, but it sounds mildly entertaining.
“I know that, but I’m asking you to show up for me one time since your business took over your life.” Her words don’t come out as a yell or even an angered demand. Her tone is more sad than anything, each word laced with deep longing that makes me feel bad for her.
“One time. That’s all you want?”
“Yes, I just want my family to see how great you are and to finally get off my back about our relationship and whether or not you really care about me. To them, if you really cared, you’d come to the Turkey Stuff.”
“I think I have a solution to our problem.” Justin’s chair scrapes across the wood floor like he stood up. “Caleb?”
Crap.
My eyes open just in time to see Justin sit down on the couch next to mine.
“I need you to impersonate me and go with Summer to her family party Wednesday night.”
I rub my palm across the base of my neck. “I’m not sure that’s a good—”
“That’s your solution?” Summer is instantly beside him.
“Yeah, it’s perfect.” Justin shrugs. “Caleb doesn’t care.”
“Actually—” I try again, but my words are cut off by Justin.
“You need your family to see you with your boyfriend, and I need to work.” His hand swings to me. “Enter my identical twin.”
“About that,” I start, but my words are suppressed again—this time by Summer.
