Page 3 of Fake It For Love (Faux Love)
“You know,” I said and gestured with my fork. “I learned something about trying to flatter my figure. I’ve been looking for suits that hid my figure. Suits that made me look svelte, like I’m going to suddenly look like I’m a size six. I decided to buy a couple of suits that I like. I don’t care if they flatter my figure. That’s just code for making me look less fat.”
That got them both to shut up for a few minutes. I took a healthy bite of the casserole.
“This is really good,” Mom said.
“Thank you.”
“Are you hoping to see anyone in particular while you’re there?” Dad asked.
I shrugged and played it off. “Not really. I haven’t talked to most of the people from school since I graduated. There are a few people I hope to see, and I’m not going there just for that. I’m going for Norah’s wedding.”
“I hope it’s a good time,” Mom said.
“How could it not be?” I said. “It’s the Caribbean. White sandy beaches and warm water. I’m so looking forward to it.”
We finished our dinner and they left. I hated that we weren’t close. It was like we were all trying to be close again, but we just couldn’t seem to find the way back. After everything that happened fifteen years ago, it was hard to look at my father the same way.
It wasn’t because we went from living a luxurious lifestyle with all the finer things in life to being dirt poor. It wasn’t about the money at all for me. It was the betrayal. My father betrayed his family for the most selfish reason. He gambled. He gambled away every penny. The house, the vacation home, and my college fund. He said it was an addiction. Maybe it was, but it still stung. He lied and didn’t tell us until we were on the verge of being homeless.
Dad had yet to admit what happened. He was embarrassed by his choices. I wanted to understand why he did what he did, but it was impossible. He had never apologized. Maybe he didn’t owe me an apology. It wasn’t my money. But it was still something that weighed heavily on me and it affected my relationship with my parents. We were all on edge with one another.
But not for long.
Soon, I was going to be out of debt. I was going to get to pick up where my life went off the rails. I supposed my irritation with my father tonight may not have been all him. I was feeling a little angry with him for what I was about to do. Being an escort wasn’t exactly my dream job. I was going to be going on a date for money. I just hoped the guy wasn’t a total dick. Then again, it didn’t matter. I didn’t have to like the guy. I just had to get through the date and then collect the money.
It was money I desperately needed. Having a drink and dinner with a guy was not going to kill me. Della mentioned the single date might turn into more than one. Apparently, the man wanted to essentially take me for a test drive. If things went well, there would be more dates and more money. That was why I had to make sure I had the perfect outfits. I wanted to impress him.
I spent the next hour carefully packing my toiletries. I could not afford an uncaring baggage guy tossing my suitcase and exploding my shampoo all over my clothes. Unlike my former classmates that would be at the reunion, I didn’t have the kind of disposable income to buy new stuff on a tropical island with inflated prices to gouge tourists.
I was excited for my trip. It wasn’t just the money I was excited to get my hands on. It was seeing my best friend married in the wedding of her dreams. And getting to spend some time in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
