Chapter 23

Chapter Twenty-Three I’d never thought one day I’d be having dinner with my fake boyfriend, my stepbrother AKA my fuck buddy, and my mom. Ridiculous as it may seem, yet here we all are, sitting beside the same table at a fancy restaurant.

The waiter has taken our order and left, leaving the rest of us to suffer the awkward silence. As much as I would like to order a glass of wine and pour it down my throat, I can’t. Damn legal drinking age.

Eason’s face is bleak and sullen. He only spit out a few words when the waiter asked him what he would like for dinner. The rest of the time, he remains dead silent. Yet his dark eyes keep raking at Alex, not even trying to hide his disgust towards the boy. Alex, on the other hand, is in a complete trance. I thank him with all my heart that he didn’t rat me out when mom called him my “boyfriend” and I feel horrible dragging him into this.

Mom is the only one at this table who’s actually enjoying dinner. “Well, isn’t this nice?” Her eyes trail across each of our gloomy faces. “I’ve always wanted to host a family dinner but was never able to find a good time. We should do this more often.”

This is hardly a good time either! I want to yell at her. But instead, I can only tighten my grip on the napkin and grit out, “Mom, that’s enough.”

Mom shots me a complaining look and directs her attention to Alex. “So Alex, how long have you and Nat been dating?”

“Mom!” I raise my voice, losing it a little. “What? I’m curious. You never share these things with me.

Unless, Alex, if you don’t want me to snoop around ”

“Umm…no Mrs. Ramirez it’s not that…” Alex seems embarrassed.

“Yes, let’s hear it.” Eason suddenly pipe in.

He dumps his napkin on the table, lean back on the chair and crosses his arms, eyes staring deeply at us. “When did it start? Where did you guys meet? Tell us Natalia. I’m so intrigued.”

That asshole!

I shot him a furious glare, but he simply ignores me.

Alex seems torn. He looks at me sideways obviously asking for help. My heart churns and I begin to make random things up. “Well, we met at one of Eason’s parties. We talked and found out we shared lots of interest. And we gradually started dating…and that’s pretty much it.”

I wrap up quickly. Hoping this hellish interrogation can be over now.

But someone clearly hasn’t done with his torture yet.

Eason’s lips curve up but that smile never reaches his eyes. “How nice. But didn’t you guys just meet?”

“When it comes to love why does time matter?” I say and then instantly disgust by my own words.

A raging gleam passes Eason’s eyes. He leans in further and his eyes fix on Alex’s face. “So, when did this officially become a thing for you two?” he asks.

I begin to answer. “We”

“Why do you keeping getting all questions?” he sneers.

I snap back. “What’s your fucking business??”

Mom immediately frowns and shushes me like I’m a five-years-old. “Natalia. Language!”

The situation is slipping towards a chaotic mess. Me and Eason glower at each other fiercely, as if we the next second would pick up a knife and thrust into each other’s face.

That’s when Alex finally speaks up.

“Actually, we just started dating a few days ago. After the ball. Sorry I was a bit nervous when you asked me earlier because it hasn’t been that long really.”

That seems like a proper answer. But my heart sinks.

Ah-oh. Not good.

Eason sits up more as a sarcastic smile appears on his face. “Is that so? But I was at the ball myself.

Didn’t you go to the ball with someone else? And if I remember correctly, your ex girlfriend?”

Fuck. I bite my lip and try to hide my panic. Even my mom’s face drops a little this time as she looks at us clearly confused.

“What’s going on? Nat?” She frowns.

This isn’t working. And I’m being a bitch letting Alex take the blame.

So I take in a deep breath and ready to come clean. I’ll tell her that I lied about me and Alex, And I’ll find some other excuse to over my night with Eason.

Yet just when I’m about to do that. Alex cuts me off.

“Actually, that reminds me of something.” Alex looks straight into Eason’s eyes, his face all serious. “My ex-girlfriend Andria told me that it was you who called her and asked her to fly back. You said I didn’t have a date, which clearly wasn’t the case at all. Why did you do that, Eason?”

…What?

My mind goes completely blank. What did he just say? Eason called Andria? How did he know Andria?

No, the most important questions is, WHY did he call Andria?

Taman I snap my head around to Eason. He ignores me, yet his jaw tenses and his nostrils flare. His silence speaks for everything. I simply can’t believe this. Did he go all this far just so that I couldn’t go to the ball with Alex? I feel rage, but more terrified. A chill fall upon me. Oh my god. I heave sharply, chest rising and falling rapidly. I’m pulling together all my strength to not flip out right here and right now.

“Excuse me. I need to use the restroom.” I say sternly and stand up abruptly, leaving the table without another word.

I cross the packed dining room hastily and into the corridor leading to the restroom. My head is spinning with so many thoughts and emotions. If that’s the case, if what Alex said was true, then Eason has just become the most manipulative person I’ve ever known. How could he fucking do that!

I grab the lady’s room door handle and suddenly hear footsteps approaching. I turn back and find it’s Alex. His face worried. “Natalia.” He walks closer to me. “Are you alright?” “Yes…no.” I sign deeply, frustrated. “God I’m so so sorry. For dragging you into this. And for you to see all those shit…”

“No that’s fine actually,” He grins. “I’m a bit surprise though. Do you want to tell me how I suddenly became your boyfriend?”

My check flames with shame.

“Well it’s a mistake. My-my mom thought I’m seeing someone lately and she can be very persistent sometimes about getting to know every detail of my life. So when she asked me if I’m dating you, I didn’t correct her. Sorry,” I murmur.

God that’s embarrassing.

Hope he didn’t think of me as some pathetic lunatics who goes around and fantasizing strangers as my boyfriends.

But to my surprise, he suddenly burst into laughter. Then he moves closer to me his eyes casting down on my face.

“So, are you seeing anyone at the moment?” he asks in a gentle tone.

“No.” I reply quickly.

That’s a lie. But he doesn’t need to know.

Damn my new life that’s full of deceives and shames.

tier Twenty-Three “Good.” He reaches out and holds my hand, a delight gleam flickering in his eyes. “Because you know.

When your mom called me your boyfriend’, I found myself loving that very much.”

My mouth forms a “0.” I’m speechless. Holy cow.