Page 50 of Practically Perfect
Jake and I share a conspiratorial glance. “Feeling much better,” I answer, taking a seat in one of the other chairs. “There’s something I need to talk to you about before we have lunch.” I swallow hard, clasping my hands together in my lap in preparation for what I’m about to say.
“Oh. What’s going on?” Mom’s eyes are fixed on me like they’re trying to pull out the truth before I can speak. “Is something wrong?” Her brow furrows, her lips press together in a thin line—theexactlook I’ve seen thousands of times.
Jake nods at me, sending silent support my way from across the room. He’s watching both of us intently, knowing this could go south at any minute.
She’s not going to see this coming. It’ll be a huge shock and will probably devastate her, given her love for Brian. But I can’t wait any longer. She has to know the truth.
Time to cut to the chase. “Brian and I have ended our engagement,” I say in a professional tone, deciding it would be best to treat this conversation like I do when delivering bad news to a client. Direct and to the point. Devoid of emotions.
Her mouth falls open as she gasps. She looks at her lap with confusion across her face. The room falls completely silent except for the sound of air from the vents. Her expression morphs from confusion to anger in seconds as the reality of what I said hits her.
“You can’t be serious. Is this some type of joke?” Her eyes narrow, her jaw clenches, and the room suddenly feels much smaller. Too small for the three of us. “What did you do? I knew you’d screw things up eventually.”
Even though I knew this was coming, it still knocks the air out of my lungs. My entire body shrinks in my seat, crippled by the verbal knife she’s plunged into my heart. I glance across the room to see Jake shooting daggers at my mom, ready to explode. I gently shake my head.
I press my lips together, clenching my fists so hard my nails dig into my palms. Reminding myself that I can’t control what she says, only how I react. “I’mthe one who called off our engagement.”
“What’s wrong with you?” she accuses, sitting straighter and glaring at me.
“Nothing. Brian and I aren’t a good long-term match. This decision was in the best interest of both of us.”
She scoffs, tilting her head and furrowing her brow so deeply it might leave permanent creases. “Do you want to be alone forever?”
Fuck. That one hurt. Pouring salt into the wound of my deepest insecurities.
“I—”
“Kate won’t end up alone,” Jake asserts, leaning forward and staring at my mom with a predatory gaze. “Men will be jumping at the chance to be with her. How can you not see the incredible woman in front of you? How lucky all of us are to be in her life?” He exhales deeply, running both hands through his hair before pulling on the back of his neck. “Brian didn’t deserve to breathe the same air as Kate. He wasn’t worthy of her. It’s about damn time she cut herself loose from that asshole.”
Whoosh. That’s the rest of the air in my lungs disappearing because Jake threw down the gauntlet to my mom. No one haseverchallenged her like this, not even my dad. And Jake’s doing it for me.
Why would he do that?Why would he risk alienating the only parental figure he has left to stand up for me?
My eyes dart back and forth between my mom and Jake as they stare each other down. I’ve played and lost this game with Jake countless times.
The tension is palpable in the room until my mom finally blinks, shaking her head and rolling her eyes. She glances in my direction and lets out a deep sigh. “It would’ve been nice if you made this decisionbeforeI hosted your engagement party. I can only imagine the gossip once people find out you broke up with your fiancé after the party.”
Jake clenches his jaw as veins throb in his neck, glaring at my mom. “Feel free to send anyone talking negatively about Kate my way. I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he says sternly. He shifts in his seat, glaring at my mom until she nods at him. Only then does his posture relax.
What is happening? Did he win a game of chicken with my mom? Has hell actually frozen over? I shake my head, chewing on my lower lip as I try to process what I just witnessed and how it makes me feel.
He stood up for me. Championed me.
Made me feel appreciated.Adored.
Why was that so easy for Jake to do, yet so impossible for Brian?
thirty-three
I checkmy appearance in the full-length mirror and apply another layer of lip gloss. Once again, I have no idea what we’re doing, except that it requires me to dress warmly. Jake was insistent on crossing off more items on this mysterious “fun to-do list” he’s created for me, even though I made it clear I’d rather rot on my couch all weekend. Yet here I am, in my favorite pair of jeans and an old flannel shirt I found in my closet that miraculously still fits, with my hair down in soft curls.
“Holy shit!” I jump, seeing Jake’s reflection in my mirror. “You scared me. I didn’t hear you come in.” I place my hand on my chest, trying to soothe my rapidly beating heart. “When did you get here?”
“Few minutes ago. You looked deep in thought. Didn’t want to bother you,” he replies, leaning against the doorframe. “Ready to go?”
“Give me a minute. I have something to give you,” I say, turning to look at him. “Wait for me in the living room?”
He nods and leaves. I quickly grab the gift bag hiding in my closet and head to the living room, nervous about what I’m about to give him—wondering if it’s too soon.
