Page 52 of Use Me Up

Obviously, sometimes I look in the mirror and try to convince myself that I’m pretty, that I’m the kind of pretty that would make someone notice me, that would mean I stand out, that kind of thing.

And sometimes, I can believe it.

But usually, I know that I’m just average.

Sometimes I read Jane Austen novels, and in them, they don’t say that girls are “ugly,” they say “plain.”

That’s what I am.

Plain.

Like vanilla.

Fine, as far as it goes, but just serviceable. Just good enough. Boring.

He made us take another picture and he put it on his Instagram, with a caption about how he’s going to eat dinner with my parents, which is a bad idea because my mother is going to see it and freak out, and it really forces her hand. If she turns him away, it will make her look bad to all of his Instagram followers.

Speaking of which, I don’t even know why he has so many followers on Instagram, not if his little modeling career was so private and invite-only.

Anyway, in this picture, it’s seriously like Bella and Edward. It’s just like, in New Moon, when she looks at a picture of the two of them together, and he’s dazzlingly attractive, and she’s just normal-looking. It’s just like when she’s contemplating how he’s too beautiful to even be with her or whatever, because he’s a vampire and she’s just a girl.

But it’s clear why Edward likes Bella. It’s because he can’t read her mind.

I don’t have a special ability like that, though.

There is no reason why Ellis would ever actually like me.

The picture of us looks like he’s a celebrity, posing with some idiot fan who only gets to touch something this attractive because she’s paid for a ticket.

It’s insanity.

My dad answers the door. He takes in Ellis and just shakes his head.

“Evening, Mr. Wihlbilt,” says Ellis, offering my dad his hand. “It’s been a while.”

My dad takes Ellis’s hand and gives it a very firm shake. “It has been a while, and you’ve got a lot of nerve.”

“Do I?”

My dad is still holding onto Ellis’s hand. “What do you think you’re doing with my daughter?”

Ellis grins, looking at me. “Well, I don’t have to tell you how great she is.”

My father narrows his eyes.

“I know things with Hannah and me started out odd,” says Ellis. “But I spent the weekend with her, and she’s, um, she’s…” He looks at me and that affectionate look comes over him. “She’s pretty amazing.”

My father lets go of Ellis’s hand. He folds his arms over his chest.

Ellis turns back to my father, smiling.

My father raises his eyebrows at me.

I shrug.

Me and my dad are the betas in the house. We’ve always been united against the absolute punch of make-it-happen-ness that is my mom and brother. As alphas, they’re assertive and confident and take-no-prisoners, and, well, dramatic.

“I want to talk to you alone, Hannah-banana,” says my dad.