“Yeah,” I bark.
“So I’m glad you’re giving us another chance. I know it means a lot to your mom. She’s been worried that you’d see Dani and her family as a lifeline in the ocean and just let her whisk you off.”
“I would never leave Mom. Unless she wanted me to,” I add hastily, lest it be a new red flag planted in my graveyard of them.
“You have to admit you belong in Dani’s world more than ours.”
I shrug. I don’t know what to say.
Frank pats me awkwardly on the shoulder. “Gonna go.” He holds up his empty beer bottle.
I feel like a fraud.
Dani’s talking to the caterers.
“You should enjoy the party,” she tells me when I head over to her. “I’m hosting it for your mom and Frank and their family. I’m here to make sure it all goes smoothly so you all can relax and enjoy yourselves.” Dani’s eyes are shining. “Honestly, she’s so amazing, having to overcome all of that. She deserves it.”
“Yeah, I know she does.”
What Mom really deserves is to not have me as a son. Stuart stole almost a decade off her life. And now I’m doing the same thing to Dani. Roping her into my family drama. Leading her on. Doing that with her in bed. Treating her like my girlfriend. Wasting her time, keeping her from living her real life, from being happy.
I’ve turned into my dad.
But the way Dani’s looking up at me?
Well, my mom never looked at Stuart like that.
39
DANI
“Dani!” Aurora dances over to me, martini in one hand, cupcake in the other.
The band has finished their set, and now the DJ is playing ’70s and ’80s hits. Kraig is here, but he’s given me and Graham a wide berth. There are enough party guests that it’s not like I really have to interact with him.
“How’s your pickle fountain?” I ask her.
“Better than your last one, which was life-changing,” Aurora says as she does a little shuffle dance to the music. “I’m on another plane! Tell Graham I want this as my Christmas present,” she jokes.
“Don’t worry. I told the caterers they have to stay out the entire time. I hate it when they pack up too early. That’s so lame. Also, at the end of the night, there’s a surprise midnight snack, because that’s how we roll here.” I smile.
“I’m pretty pleased with how this party turned out.”
“Everyone’s having fun. Even Graham.”
“Suck it, Colette. Icanactually plan a nice party,” I mutter.
“Ooh, is Colette the mean-girl bestie? Graham told me all about that, and you have to redo her whole bachelorette? Kickher ass to the curb. Look.” Aurora sets down her drink. “About Graham.”
I shift my walkie-talkie in my hand. “I’m such a pushover. I really shouldn’t let Graham pay for that,” I tell her in a rush. “I promise I’m not actually after your son for his money.”
“I know you’re not.” She rests her hands on my arms. “I can see how much you two care about each other.”
I feel shitty. I wouldn’t even be here if I wasn’t a loser who blackmailed a guy into being my fake boyfriend. His mom already went through enough—she doesn’t need me inserting myself in her life like this.
“I guess I better go see about those midnight snacks!”
Before I can leave, his mom whispers to me, “Thank you for choosing him. He’s been lonely.”
