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My mother listens quietly as I recount everything that’s happened in the last couple of weeks—only cutting in to ask clarifying questions as she lets me explain how Mackenzie and I got wrapped up in our arrangement and how it benefits us both. I pointedly leaveout our recentsex addendum, as Mackenzie calls it; that’s a level I haven’t even really figured out myself yet, after all.
“So, you’re pretending to be mated to this woman.”
“Or dating her, where her grandmother is concerned.”
“Oh boy.”
“I know what you’re going to say,” I sigh.
She makes a disgruntled sound. “No, you don’t. Despite that fancy doctor brain of yours—you don’t knoweverything.”
“Fine,” I grumble. “Then say whatever it is you’re going to say.”
“What is she like?”
This takes me by surprise. It’s definitely not what I expected my mother to follow up with. “You mean, Mackenzie?”
“No, I mean Regina at the crochet club,” she scoffs. “OfcourseI mean Mackenzie.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“I’m curious what sort of woman throws herself into such an intricate ruse to help out my son. Especially since she apparently barely knew him before all this.”
“I don’t know.” I frown down at my desk, thinking. “She’s... funny? And competent. Everyone here seems to love her. I mean, I’m not really sure why she even agreed to this in the first place. She’s very pretty, after all. I find it incredibly hard to believe that she needs help in the dating department. I guess I should just be grateful that she—What are you giggling about?”
“Oh, honey,” she laughs. “How much do you like this woman?”
“What?” I make a face. “It’s not like that. We’re helping each other.”
In and out of the bedroom, apparently,I think guiltily.
“I’ve known you for thirty-six years, son,” she says. “And I’veneverheard you talk about a woman the way you are now.”
“Youaskedwhat she was like,” I mutter.
“Oh, this is wonderful,” she practically cackles. “Maybe this will make you think twice about packing up and moving to another state.”
“It’s notlikethat,” I continue to protest.
“Sure, sure,” she chuckles. “Does your fake relationship entail her meeting your parents?”
“Absolutely not.”
“It would probably be good for your charade if the two of you—”
“Absolutely not,” I stress.
“Fine, fine.” She goes quiet for a second as I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I just worry about you,” she admits. “You’re always so closed off, Noah.”
“I am not—”
“Yes, you are,” she argues. “You’ve been so worried about keeping that part of yourself hidden that you never let yourself get close to anyone. Hell, you barely talk to us about your problems anymore!”
“Language,” I say sarcastically.
“Oh, shut up,” she huffs. “All I’m saying is... it sounds like Mackenzie might be a special lady. After all, it takes a pretty exceptional person to turn her entire life upside down to help a stranger.”
“I told you, this also benefits—”
