I scoff. “This is her dream. She’s following in her mother’s footsteps. Haven’t you heard her parents’ proposal story? She tells everyone.”
“Guess I wasn’t paying attention,” he says dismissively. “Why do you care so much, anyway?”
“Because she’s my best friend,” I remind him. I realize that I’m not going to be able to appeal to his emotions, since he clearly has none. But maybe I can get through to the practical side of him. “She’s paying me to plan this for her. This is my job, Oliver.”
“Yeah, exactly.Yourjob. Not mine.” He pokes his finger into his chest to drive home his point.
“Okay, but it’s not your job to make sure Ryan’s proposal goes according to plan. What do you have to lose?”
He reaches one hand up to scratch his chin. “Hmm. Let me see. I drove around to ten different jewelers with him until he found just the right ring. I convinced a girl I was dating for only two weeks to compare ring sizes with Tina so that Ryan could get it fitted, which backfired on me, because then she thought I was going to propose.” He stops for a second, then adds with emphasis, “After only two weeks.”
I flinch.
“Not that any of that matters, though, because Ryan is my best friend and I’m not going to sabotage his proposal no matter what.”
I tighten my lips, thinking. Tina has given me a ridiculous amount of money. I’m sure I can work this into the budget somehow. “I’ll pay you.”
He frowns, then starts to laugh. “Seriously? What part of ‘no matter what’ do you not understand?”
My face feels hot. I don’t know what else to do other than rush Tina’s proposal, but that wouldn’t give me enough time to plan it. My eyes drop to the floor while I think about my next move. I should just leave. Coming here was a mistake, and telling him Tina’s plan was an even bigger mistake.
Just as I’m about to turn toward the door, Oliver drops his shoulders and lets out a heavy sigh. I look up at him, curious about his change in demeanor.
“Okay, fine,” he says.
My eyes go wide. I wonder if he’s really going to help me.
“Maybe I can tell you what Ryan is planning,” he relents. “But you have to promise that Tina doesn’t hear a word of it.”
“Of course.” I’m so relieved I could cry. I step forward and wrap my arms around him. His body stiffens. His arms go out to the side, making me aware of how weird and unwanted this hug is. I don’t know what’s gotten into me. Of all the people in the world, I’m hugginghim.Oliver. The asshole who’s made every social interaction miserable for me for the last year. I let go and take a few steps back, but even as I step away, I can still smell his cologne and feel the warmth from his body as if my arms were still wrapped around him. “Sorry. I got carried away.”
He frowns, his eyes moving over me like he can’t believe I dared to put my body so close to his. Then he smirks, and I hate it because I know that he’s going to use this against me at some point.
“I’ll let you know what I find out,” he says.
ChapterFour
The Puppy in the Window
I’m glad that my parents agreed to have lunch with me today. Meeting them at a restaurant means I won’t be stuck in the uncomfortable position of being inside their house when I tell them the news that I lost my job and they inevitably insist I move back in with them. It’s not that I think they would kidnap me and not let me leave, but thatishow I ended up living with them again after college. I was worried about not being able to afford rent on my own. My mom baked a warm apple pie, and brought me a slice with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream. Then we sat on the couch and watched movies, and it was so comfortable that I felt like a kid again. They didn’t have to try very hard to convince me to move in. Just being with them in their home made me want that life back. The easy, comfortable life of my childhood.
I walk inside and spot them at a table near the back. My mom smiles and waves as I head over to them. I put on a smile, bracing myself for the conversation that’s about to happen.
“I ordered you a strawberry lemonade,” my mom says. She slides the glass closer to me as I sit down.
I smile and take a sip.
“I’m surprised Delmar let you take an hour for lunch,” my dad says. He looks me over. “And that you can get away with wearing something like that to work.”
I look down at my outfit. I guess if I wanted to keep up the charade of still having a job a little longer, I should have suggested we meet up on a weekend or not worn a loose sweater with leggings on a day I would normally be at work.
I shrug. “I can wear whatever I want when I work for myself.”
Dad’s eye twitches. Mom has a smile that doesn’t falter even as she glances between me and Dad.
“What happened to your job, Priss?” Dad asks slowly.
I bite my lip, trying to decide if I should go with the truth or if I should make it sound like this was all my decision. I’m not a good liar, though. I let out my breath. “I got fired.”
