Page 13 of Faking it For Summer

I start humming the words to “WAP” by Cardi B, and Wendy looks at me in shock.

“Nothing wrong with getting some. There are going to be some hot men at the wedding, I bet. Maybe even staying at your place. You wouldn’t want to have hot sex with some tall, dark, handsome stranger?”

“No,” she says, but I notice her face go red, and she’s looking away.

My brain immediately starts ticking. Has she already met someone? I’m about to pry and ask her a question when she speaks again.

“What about you? Are you planning on having a hot love affair with a gorgeous wedding guest? Oh, wait, did you decide to go with Luke?” She lowers her voice, and I grin.

“I mean, I wouldn’t say no to a hot guy.” I move my hips back and forth. “But I’m not sure that’s going to work, to be honest. Now, I officially have a fake boyfriend.”

“So, it’s on?” She grins at me, and I nod.

“Luke and I are going to the wedding together. As a couple. We’re going to pretend to be in love.” I giggle and twirl around. “My heart beats for you, Luke.” I stop and wink at Wendy. “At least, that’s what I’ll be telling everyone in a couple of days.”

“Hmm.” Wendy smiles ruefully, and she gazes at me before speaking again. “Is it all a ruse or …”

“Or what?” I frown. “It’s just a ruse, trust me. There is nothing between Luke and me in real life, other than being best friends. Nothing at all. You know this, Wendy.” My tone sounds too high, and I frown.

Why would Wendy even ask me that question? There is absolutely nothing between Luke and me. Nothing at all but years of friendship.

“Rafe, can you have a seat, please?” I ask my brother as he hovers over the table, grabbing warm chocolate chip cookies and stuffing them in his face. “I have something important I want to tell everyone,” I announce as he goes to grab another cookie. At the rate he’s eating them, there won’t be any left for me. “Please save some for the rest of us.” I grab my fork and take another bite of the lasagna my grandma made for dinner. “I would like some cookies as well.”

“You snooze, you lose, Mia.”

“You sound like you’re five.” I grab two cookies and place them next to my plate just in case.

“I don’t know any five-year-old vets.” He chortles as he takes a seat across the table from me. “What’s the deal? What’s the big announcement?” He looks over at our grandparents, then at our parents. “Does anyone know?”

“I have no idea.” My mother looks miffed that she’s not in on whatever I’m about to divulge to everyone, but I hope she will understand why.

“Everyone, I’m about to impart on you a huge announcement, something I can no longer keep to myself.”

I look down at the table, my face bright red. To everyone else, it may look like I’m blushing with anxiousness or embarrassment, but the fact is, I’m doing my best to look like I’m struggling to tell them this information. I need them to believe that this is real. My grandparents, parents, and brother are all upstanding people, and I love them, but they like to talk. And while I don’t think any of them would deliberately tell my secret,I am not so sure that it wouldn’t slip out, especially from my grandma’s lips. So, I have to ensure that they all believe me.

“What is going on, Mia?” Rafe checks his watch and then taps his fingers against the table in a grating way. “And how long is this announcement going to take? I have beach volleyball later tonight, and I have to go to work tomorrow. Unfortunately, the animals are not going to understand that I spent the night listening to you whine about how …” His voice drifts off as I give him my best death stare.

“I’m sure all of you have heard that Rex Haverbrook is engaged and getting married in a couple of weeks.”

“Oh, boy, are you heartbroken?” Rafe’s voice is teasing, but I can tell from the concerned look on his face that my big brother is worried.

For all his moaning and groaning, I know that Rafe would do anything for me. He’s always been an overprotective big brother. He doesn’t know that I know about all the times he stuck up for me in school.

“No, I’m not heartbroken. Far from it.” I hold my head up high and smile.

I channel my inner Viola Davis fromHow to Get Away with Murder. I channel my inner Meryl Streep fromSophie’s Choice. And then I desperately try to recall every memory of Kate Hudson fromHow to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. My fingers play with my hair nervously, and then I look down demurely, like I’m giddy but nervous to speak. I tilt my head up, pretending Steven Spielberg himself is directing me, and then I look each one of them in the eye and blink rapidly. The goal is to tear up in happiness, but unfortunately for me, my skills aren’t that profound.

“Do you have an eyelash stuck or something?” Rafe leans forward. “You need to stop wearing so much eye junk.”

“I do not have an eyelash stuck.”Calm down, Mia. Do not go off on your brother. I offer him a sweet smile instead. “I am in love.”

“You, what?” He starts coughing and spits out a piece of the cookie he was chewing. “With who?”

“I have been waiting to tell everyone the news, and we’ve decided that it’s best to let everyone know now.” I lick my lips.

Everyone is staring at me intently.

“I don’t want anyone to be upset that we’ve been keeping this secret.”