Page 18 of How (Not) to Conjure a Boyfriend
“He’s in a coma.” He shrugs. “I guess he’s good.”
Mary-Anne grunts and turns around with an annoyance-glazed smile. “Dig in, everyone.”
Gramps and Holly hadn’t waited. He’s already at the edge of the large center island with the beautiful butcher’s block top, plate in hand, scooping a generous helping of baked beans. I glance back to get another look at Zachary. Hayden never wore pants like that. Tight around the thighs and shaping. Hayden’s hair is more brown. Zachary’s is nearly black and whooshed back with product, where Hayden’s bursts over the front of his forehead in soft plumes.
I overhear Catina asking what a dish near the center is, and Mary-Anne takes a quick look before saying it’s broccoli casserole. My eyes widen and I involuntarily lick my lips. I love broccoli casserole. I ground myself back on the food, until I spot the turkey and ham set at the start of the line next to bowls of gravy and pineapple glaze. My mouth is watering from the smell alone. If it tastes anywhere near as good as it all looks, I’m going to be in pain tonight.
Before I can get in line behind Gran, a spindly arm wraps around the crook of my elbow and pulls. Holly. I don’t know what to do, so I just follow. The food will still be there in another minute.
“This is Kenzie,” Holly says, presenting me to Zachary like I’m some cool animal she found outside. She looks up at me and nods toward Zachary. “This is Zach, he’s annoying.”
“I’m not annoying. You’re just whiny,” Zachary scoffs, and pokes Holly’s shoulder. She squeals playfully as he retracts and looks at me. “And I know who they are. Wasn’t hard to figure out.”
What? He knows who I am? And he saidthey, nothe? I fight back a curious squint.
“Hey,” I say, hoping this is over quick so I can stop focusing so hard on making eye contact. His eyes are so gorgeous it’s literally intimidating. Why can’t he be an ugly brother?
“So, you’re Hayden’s enbyfriend, huh?” Zach asks, but it’s not a simple question. There’s accusation in his voice.
“Yeah.” I bounce my shoulders as if to sayso what?I need to make myself believe it if I’m going to survive here. That’s part of selling the lie, right? Gods, I’m a horrible person, but he’s got me on edge. Everyone else just went with it. He’s challenging it with nothing more than inflection.
A moment goes by and he doesn’t respond, he doesn’t say a word. He just stands there, eyes boring into my very being. If they weren’t so pretty and my outrageous lie didn’t depend on it right now, I’d look away. Say something, Zach. I’d rather you accuse me in front of everyone than to have a stare-down. I’m about to buckle when he squints harder and his lips move.
“What’s his favorite sport?”
“Huh?” I’m thrown off by the sudden question.
“Sport. What’s Hayden’s favorite sport?” Zachary asks again, his words thicker.
“Uh…” I stumble. Trivia? About Hayden? You want to quiz me to make sure I’m who I say I am. I know this though. “Basketball. He plays for Mitchell.”
“Okay.” Zach rocks his head from side to side, eyes searching for another question. “When’s his birthday?”
I start to open my mouth, but stop. Was it May or April? I remember this. He came in with a friend, some oddly tall guy I think he called Anthony, on his birthday this year, and I put it in my phone. Okay, maybe that’s a little weird, but it was a fact about him I wanted to keep. But when was it? I know it was on the twenty-second, but was it April or May?
A grin rises on Zachary’s face. He knows he’s got me, but I’m not getting outed for not remembering Hayden’s birthday! I’m about to blurt May, but Mary-Anne speaks first.
“Zach, what’s gotten into you?” Mary-Anne scolds while I try to determine how bad getting it wrong would actually be. Just because I get it wrong doesn’t necessarily mean we’re not a couple, just that we’re notthereyet. Right?
“Nothing. I’m good.” Zachary puts a hand up.
If I did that, my mom would be doing more right now than giving me a grimace. Must be nice.
“The twenty-second,” I blurt. I have to say something quick or they’ll all get suspicious, and I don’t want tonight to end that way. I want to have dinner with a nice family and feel like I belong, then get the hell out of Dodge. “Of May.”
Yes! That’s it. Because it was close to Memorial Day when they came in and his friend bought him a whole-ass cake for his birthday.
“O—” Zachary starts, but his mom cuts in.
“What is going on?” Mary-Anne shrugs, leaning over the kitchen island.
“Nothing, just a little fun quizzing. That’s it.” He squints at me then slaps my shoulder and smiles. “You pass.”
I don’t know whether to scream, cry, or laugh. Maybe it would’ve been better had I gotten it wrong and they all figured it out now. That way I could have run out the door, sped home, and rocked myself to sleep in tears, but it would be over. Now I have to keep it up. Is that so bad though? I glance around the room at all the happy faces and I’m reminded of all that I’m missing in life. I huff and return Zach’s smile, hoping it comes off as genuine.Just get this over with.
Zachary starts toward the line, but not before scooting in closer and whispering in my ear, “I still don’t believe you.”
Before I can panic, I grip my necklace and breathe while putting on an annoyed face just for him. Something that hopefully says he’s being unreasonable. Something to convince him he’s wrong about being right. He waves his hand toward the line, like some southern gentleman with a side of deviousness, and I get back in line. He falls in behind. I swear to the gods I can feel his eyes lasering into the back of my head, trying to search for that clue he needs to out me as a fraud.Just breathe, Kenzie. Breathe.
