Page 13 of Stopping Short

“Oh, darling! It’s so nice to see you. Happy birthday.” Mrs. Fodder takes my hands in hers and kisses each of my cheeks. She’s acting like we’re the best of friends, yet our entire relationship, she’s treated me like the dirt on the bottom of her shoe.

She doesn’t think my family is good enough. An ex-cop turned personal security company owner and an operating room nurse is beneath the Fodder’s wealth and status. We’re just mere peasants to them.

“Thank you.” I smile like this is all normal and there’s nothing odd about the personality change she’s apparently had.

“You look beautiful, Heather.” Mr. Fodder smiles at me like he did something good.

“Her name is Harper,” Evan hisses.

“Oh, I'm sorry. My new assistant’s name is Heather. I swear I call her name a thousand times a day. It was just a slip up.” He waves off any concern like he hasn’t known me for four years and is still completely unaware of what my name is. His assistant’s name is Hannah. She’s a very kind woman and she’s been working for him for a decade. She told me she doesn’t love it, but he pays well so she won't leave.

“Thank you, sir.”

“No need to call me sir.” His smile is a little too big. Too bright. Too forced.

He’s checked his watch ten times since I walked over here and now it’s making sense. He wants Evan to move this along because he has places to be that aren’t here. A birthday party for his son’s girlfriend is probably a living nightmare for him. He could be at the club playing a round of golf or schmoozing one of the more powerful men there.

“You should probably just start calling me dad.” He smiles like he did something he can be proud of.

I glance up at Evan with furrowed brows. He looks like he’s seconds away from hitting someone.

“Um… I don’t think that would be appropriate.”

Mrs. Fodder hisses something in his ear. I can’t hear what she’s saying, but based on the wide eyes and instant regret, I'm assuming she just informed him that Evan hasn’t proposed yet.

Evan turns his back on his parents and plasters a fake smile on his face. He leads us to the middle of the room and whistles loudly. As everyone quiets down as he takes my hand in his and scans the room. He loves being the center of attention. I swear it was bred into him.

“Thank you all for coming to help me celebrate Harper’s birthday. I'm so glad we can share this occasion with all of you.”

I try my hardest to smile and look happy, but based on the crazy look Jennifer’s giving me, I don’t think I'm pulling it off well. I'm not good at hiding behind a mask. I'm used to just being myself and not caring what other people think.

“Before we dig into the delicious food, I’d like to say something…” Evan turns his full attention towards me. He takes both of my hands in his and stares down at me like a man who wants to appear to be in love.

I don’t think Evan actually loves me. Not the way a man should when he’s about to get down on one knee and propose.

I should just walk away. Tell him this is a bad idea and escape before anything else can happen.

“Harper, my life took a turn the day I met you. I’ll never forget when you walked into our English class and were scanning the room for an empty seat. I wanted to put my hand up and wave it through the air like a crazy man. Anything to get your attention.”

I frown because that’s not how we met. We were both lost and looking for our class. We showed up late and the teacher wasn’t happy. He wasn’t watching me from a seat. Does he forget that day entirely?

I swallow hard and glance around. I need to find a way out of here. A way to get him to stop talking.

“I was so nervous when I first asked you out. I thought you were going to turn me down. I figured I had no chance with the most beautiful woman in the world.” He flashes me a grin.

Yet that grin does nothing to me. It doesn’t make my heart skip a beat or butterflies to erupt in my stomach. Nothing like it should.

I should be mesmerized by every word coming out of Evan’s mouth. I should be tearing up and thinking this is the best night of my life. I shouldn’t be looking for the nearest exit or wondering if I can make myself throw up to get him to stop.

“Our life together has been pure happiness.”

Lies! It’s all a lie. We’ve broken up half a dozen times over the last four years.

“We’ve loved each other so deeply.”

Not true! I’ve never even uttered those words. I’ve never felt that deeply for him.

“We make the perfect couple and everyone tells us we’re destined to be together.”