Chapter Five #2
“Look,” she cuts me off. “He’s a real estate developer. Recently divorced and looking for the right girl to spoil. I think you’ll approve.”
“But—”
Mom shows me a photo from her phone. The guy’s gotta be in his fifties at least, with graying hair receding like a tide and a doughy complexion that would make a beluga whale proud.
This is her idea of a “perfect guy”? She wants somebody like Josh for Katt, but this for me? Hurt and anger at Mom’s blatant favoritism dig their talons deep into my heart, but I press my lips together. She’s on a roll, which means nothing’s going to penetrate right now.
“He won’t even need a baby from you, so you don’t have to go through labor and ruin your body more than it already is. And he’s fabulously rich. What do you think?” She sounds entirely too pleased with herself.
She isn’t going to listen to anything I say, so I just show her the back of my left hand.
“What’s that?” Katt’s eyes narrow.
“I got engaged.”
Mom’s jaw slackens. “Engaged?”
“You have a boyfriend?” Dad’s tone says, That’s news to me, with a hint of displeasure.
“Yes. I mentioned him on Father’s Day, I think?” I’d bet my big toes that he doesn’t remember. He was too entranced with a new golf club Katt bought him. But it was a very handsome club. Limited edition. Autographed by some pro golfer Dad loves. “But I guess he’s a fiancé now.”
“Let me see that ring,” Mom demands, leaning over. I extend my hand. She grabs and pulls it toward her. “How many carats?”
“Not sure.” I shrug.
“You should know things like that.” She tuts. “They’re important. The bigger the rock, the more he loves you.”
I pull my lips in. “I’ll, um, make sure to find out.”
Katt studies the ring. “Eh. It’s not bad, just tiny.”
Dad’s expression stays taut as he leans over to glance at the ring, then looks at the stones on Mom’s hands. Mine’s smaller than Mom’s for sure. His mouth relaxes a little. “Less than eight carats,” he announces with authority.
“It’s the sentiment that counts,” I say, but I don’t think anybody hears me.
“This barely passes for a ring. Why is the band loose?” Mom’s eyes light up. “Wait—are you finally dieting like I told you to?”
I cough awkwardly. She’s going to be disappointed. “No. There was a mix-up at the jeweler. We’re going to get it resized, so it fits properly.”
Mom visibly deflates.
“So who is this man? Shouldn’t he have spoken to me first? Gotten my blessing?” Dad demands. “Neville and I already met. And I told him he was welcome to you if he wanted.”
“You haven’t met him,” I say, ignoring Dad’s statements about Neville. “He was going to talk to you, but then got carried away in the moment. And I said yes because he’s right for me.”
“Right how? Is he rich?” Mom asks.
I swallow a sigh. Money never came up. It’s so weird and awkward to ask anyway, like asking a guy you just met about his favorite sex position. “Well… He seems to be doing pretty well for himself. He drives a brand-new Lexus and has a swanky condo with the right zip code, so… I guess…?”
Mom looks at me like she’s raised a hopelessly challenged child.
“Didn’t you check?” Dad frowns. “Things like that are important. You need to make sure the man you marry can support you properly. It would be awkward if you had to rely on others.” Translation: You shouldn’t think about mooching off Katt.
“I do have a job. One that pays well.”
Katt scoffs. “A pittance. Besides, it isn’t a stable career. Josh can replace you any time with somebody better qualified. You didn’t even go to college.”
“Community college isn’t bad,” I say quietly.
“Still…” My sister shrugs.
I don’t bother to point out she didn’t go either, since it’ll only escalate into a battle, with three of them ganging up on me. She barely finished high school, as her modeling career kept her too busy for something as plebian as going to school.
“Does it matter? With Josh wrapped around your fingers, surely he’ll give her some slack,” Mom tells Katt.
“I’ve been working for him for three years.” It’s like I’m talking to an empty room—nobody’s looking at me.
“There are plenty of younger and prettier assistants,” Dad says finally, swallowing a prawn.
It’s very difficult to grind your teeth while smiling. “Assistants actually have to be able to perform.”
Mom snorts. “How hard can grabbing coffee be? And doesn’t AI do everything else? Once they figure out a way to get computers to brew coffee, you won’t have a job.”
“Please.” Katt places a hand over Mom’s arm. “Let’s not be so judgmental. Besides, it’s better that she works for Josh. I can trust her to keep an eye on him, if you know what I mean. Even if he means to stay faithful, there might be other women trying to seduce him.”
The dismissively stated truth lances my heart.
I hold my breath for a moment to contain the pang.
I’ve been working so hard to get over my unrequited crush on Josh, and every time I think I’m making progress, something happens to show that I’m not.
Still, I will get over it. It’s for my own good—my own mental and emotional health.
But first, I have to stop Katt and Mom. Otherwise, they’ll continue and plan out the entire wedding between her and Josh, and I’m not ready to smile through it yet. “Anyway, when are you going to know for sure about the role?” I change the subject to something the family can’t resist.
Katt immediately perks up. “Hopefully in the next month or two.”
“That’s amazing.” Go on. Keep talking about yourself.
“Maybe Katt can get you on as an extra. Help you break into the business,” Mom says, leaning forward.
“If Ted Lasker needs somebody who can grind her teeth and smile at the same time…” I say, doing exactly that.
Mom laughs, oblivious. “That’s just someone with a freak talent, not an actress.”
“Yeah. Wonder what that would make the person’s mother?” I say sweetly.
“Probably somebody just as freaky, but sometimes kids never end up the way you want.” Mom looks at Katt indulgently. Dad nods before grabbing more fried rice.
I just refill my empty teacup. I should be used to this more.
Katt’s prettier and more successful. More confident too, and acts cute and spoiled around them like a little puppy princess.
I’m the opposite. Not pretty enough, not tall enough, not thin enough.
Not very bright, either. Too stiff, too awkward.
And when I speak my mind, I apparently sound like a bitch, so I’d better think twice before saying anything.
I study my family. They’re chatting and laughing, glowing like the happiest family in the world. I might as well be an outsider.
Maybe the problem is me. I don’t fit in, like a glob of wasabi in a taco.
It’s okay, I tell myself. Soon, I’m going to have my own family, where I won’t be wasabi. I’ll be cheese. Or guacamole. Chad doesn’t make me feel excluded. I feel okay around him.
“Excuse me,” comes a hesitant voice. A visibly pregnant brunette in a wine-colored empire dress stops next to Katt with a slight smile. Her cheeks are flushed, and she bites her lower lip. “You’re Katt Klein, right?”
“Yes.” My sister’s expression couldn’t be more gracious. She believes in maintaining an angelic public persona.
“Oh wow! I’m really sorry to interrupt. I kept thinking and debating, but I just couldn’t resist. Is it okay if I ask you to sign this for me?
” The woman pushes out all the words in a breathless rush, then pulls a pastel-pink onesie and permanent marker out of a glossy white paper bag. “You’re my favorite model.”
Katt beams. Nothing makes her happier than people’s adoration. “Of course. What’s your name?”
“Autumn.” The woman is absolutely crimson with shy joy.
My parents nod with approval. “We hope your baby will be as wonderful as our Katt,” Mom says.
“Oh, is this a family dinner?” The woman grows even more flustered. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s all right. We love meeting Katt’s fans,” Dad says with a broad grin.
My sister autographs the onesie with a flourish. “Here you go. Want to take a picture too?”
Autumn looks about to faint. I shift to catch her, just in case. Can’t have a pregnant lady landing on her butt on the hard floor.
“Can I?” she squeals.
“Of course.” Katt turns to me. “Could you do it for us?”
“Sure.” I take Autumn’s phone and take the photo.
The woman’s smiling so widely she looks like a crocodile.
Katt made her night, if not her year. My chest tightens.
Katt and I weren’t like this before. We used to be close, sleeping under the same blanket and whispering our secrets and dreams until Mom came in to tell us to shut up and go to sleep.
But somewhere along the way, after her debut as a model, things changed. And now… Well. Here we are.
“Thank you,” Autumn says to me as she takes her phone, then pauses. “What an interesting ring.” She looks up and gives me an odd look, her eyes darting at Katt and my parents briefly.
I frown a little, unsure why she’s showing a low-grade hostility toward me.
“She just got engaged,” Katt says.
“Engaged?” Autumn stares at my ring with unblinking intensity that makes me want to lower the hand. Except somehow that feels like a defeat. “When?” Her tone is oddly sharp—maybe even a little rude.
“Last night,” I clarify, although her nosiness combined with suspicion is starting to irritate me. Why is it that even strangers treat me with disrespect? Do I have SUCKER written across my forehead or something?
“How odd. I recently lost a ring that looks just like that one. It was a first-anniversary gift from my husband.” Her lips purse, her eyes still on my ring.
I stiffen. Is she accusing me of stealing her ring?
My parents and sister shoot me probing looks. Are they kidding?
Resentment starts welling. Why are they siding with a total stranger? This woman hasn’t provided any evidence. But my family’s subtle support seems to embolden her as she continues to stare down at me like she’s a cop interrogating a suspect.
Continuing to sit puts me at disadvantage—she’s doing everything possible to loom and physically intimidate me without actually touching. I stand, my right hand on the table. “Are you calling me a thief?”
“Maybe you should produce this fiancé of yours. Why would you have a dinner with your family without him? Shouldn’t you be celebrating your engagement?” Autumn says.
I point at Katt. “This dinner isn’t about me. But even if it weren’t, he’s in Charlotte, checking up on his ailing—”
“Hey, honey, what’s taking so long? Didn’t you already get the autograph for the baby?” A trim man in a button-down shirt and slacks rushes over and wraps an arm around Autumn protectively, keeping his back to me. But there’s no way I’d fail to recognize that soft male voice.
Shock and outrage sucker-punch me. “Chad?”