Then, they’re rearranging chairs, and we’re making room. Collin and I get separated in the shuffle, but Katherine ends up at his side. Somehow, her hand remains on his shoulder, his upper back—wait, is it in his hair right now?
Collin is cool, calm, and collected as always. He’s shooting the breeze with the new arrivals and acting as if everything is normal.
The waiter swings by to take our order.
“Let’s do an extra-large thin crust.” Katherine bounces in her seat. “Sausage and black olives good with you guys?”
No one complains, and no one argues, so the waiter leaves, promising to be back with our food ASAP.
It’s ridiculous that the pizza selection is what sends me over the edge, but I feel tears pressing against the backs of my eyes. Thin crust? Sausage? Black olives? That is so opposite from what I literallyjusttold Collin I like, and he doesn’t say anything, doesn’t make an effort to get my opinion.
The idea I had that he was being nice to me and looking out for me because he cared is obviously as false as our fake relationship. I feel like an elephant sat down on my chest.
I keep my head downturned and chug my water. I should not be feeling a pit open up deep in my belly right now. It’s stupid. I have no real claim over Collin. I don’t even like Collin enough to want to stake my claim. I’m not attached. So I don’t understand why I feel suddenly sick at the sight of him being his usual, extroverted self.
Must be the butterflies going down in flames.
I weigh my options. I could stay and seethe while Collin makes our relationship look like the sham it really is. Or I could cut my losses, make up an excuse to get the heck out of Romeo’s, and spare myself the humiliation.
Door number two it is.
I push my chair back. “I’ve got to pee.”
“I’ll come with you.” Rose stands, and Poppy nods. “Me too.”
We start for the bathrooms, and behind me, Collin calls out, “You okay, babe?”
I pretend not to hear him.
When I make it to the sanctuary of the ladies’ room—and sanctuary is a real stretch because this room reeks of stale garlic bread and cheap bleach—I exhale and slip into a stall before my sisters can jump all over me.
They’re silent until I meet them at the sinks again.
“Did you know your coworkers were coming?” Poppy asks me while I’m washing my hands.
“Did Collin invite them?” Rose has her arms crossed and is staring at our joint reflection in the mirror.
Even though every one of the cells in my body is longing to pour out all my problems to my sisters, I need to downplay this. I need to pretend Collin and I are on the same team—as much as it kills me.
“We told them we’d be here,” I hedge. It’s not far from the truth. I’m guessing Collin filled them in at least, which makes me feel like even more of a fool for opening up to him outside. I thought this was a date. A fake one, sure. But at least an exclusive one. Meanwhile he was clearly hoping to enjoy the company of people other than me.
“I don’t feel good all of a sudden. Cramps,” I add, because my sisters won’t argue if they think my ovaries are waging war against me.
Poppy’s blue eyes go immediately doe-like, and she starts stroking my hair. “Poor thing,” she coos. “That’s the worst. Does pizza even sound good?”
“Not anymore.”
And ain’t that the truth.
“I can drive you back to The Downer.” Rose frowns. “I mean, back to your apartment. Unless you think Collin will take you.” She looks at me expectantly, but I’m already shaking my head.
“I don’t want to bother him, especially not since his—er, our—friends are here. I’d appreciate the ride if you don’t mind cutting your night short.”
“Not at all. I drove separately from the love birds.” Rose hooks her thumb at Poppy, who rolls her eyes. “But I’m parked half a mile away. I’ll pull up for you.”
“Yeah? Okay. Thanks, Rosie. That’ll give me a chance to say goodbye.”
The three of us leave the bathroom, and Rose makes for the exit. Poppy hooks her arm with mine, and we walk in silence back to the table.
