Page 64 of Movers and Fakers

“Look what your boyfriend got us!” one of the girls, Daphne, exclaims, and lifts the teddy bear.

“You got them gifts, too?” I look over my shoulder, and he shrugs like it’s no big deal. Like he didn’t just give me the best gift I’ve ever gotten and make a bunch of little girls’ nights.

“Girls, look right here and smile!” my mom says, pointing her phone toward us.

The corset I’m wearing feels too tight. I can’t catch my breath. There’s no time to process all of these gestures. I smile, and it’s real, but it’s not for my mom’s sake. It’s for the man behind me, who I’d really like to kiss right now if we weren’t in a room full of people.

“Oh, you’re all so precious,” Mom coos. “Hayes, come get in the picture. Girls hold your bears up high.”

Hayes steps beside me, wrapping an arm around my waist. I glance up at him to find him already looking at me. A lock of auburn hair has fallen over his forehead. I reach up and brush it back. He smiles down at me. All the while, my mom is snapping photos. Usually this is my least favorite part of the night. But with Hayes here, it’s not so bad.

The little girls hug us both before running off to their parents.

“Okay, just you two,” Mom says.

We smile in her direction. Then Hayes bends down and kisses my temple. I feel his touch all the way in my toes.

“Girls, you hop in. Hayes, step to the side for a minute please, honey.”

Hayes moves away and I resist the urge to frown. My friends surround me, and I’m beyond grateful they’re here. They tell me how stunning I am and how well I did, but my mind is stuck on the gift a few feet away and the man who gave it to me.

He got me flowers and a jewelry box in my favorite color. On top of that, which would have been more than enough on its own, he got me the most beautiful pair of earrings. He must have remembered our brief conversation about Swan Lake. But how did he know I prefer silver jewelry?

I glance over to where he’s leaning against the whiteboard. He winks at me and I blush, turning back to my mom’s camera.

After I get photos with every friend and family member present, I’m finally allowed to get out of this costume. I could wait until I get back to my apartment, but it’s awful to ride in the car with all this on, so I decide to go ahead and change. Everyone leaves except my mom, who starts to help me out of the contraption. She’s got years of experience, so she makes quick work of the pins and laces with her nimble fingers.

“What was in the gift bag?” she asks, sounding like a teenager instead of a mom.

I can’t help the giggle that falls from my lips. I’m not sure I’ve ever been this happy before.

“A jewelry box and swan earrings.”

Mom gasps. “How thoughtful!” She helps me step out of the dress. “He’s a good one.”

“Yes, he is,” I reply quietly as I slide on my sweatpants.

“I just love seeing you so happy,” she gushes while I pull a hoodie over my head.

“Thanks, Mom.”

“You should have seen him watching and cheering for you, Rory. The boy is enamored with you.”

A blush heats my face.

“I don’t know about that,” I murmur, and zip up my duffel bag.

“Trust me, you’ve got him wrapped around your little finger. Why else would he get you and those girls gifts?”

She makes a good point, but she also doesn’t know that this is all technically fake. Hayes didn’t have to get any of the gifts, and it seemed like the jewelry box was special, but I’m still not sure what’s real and what’s for show. Did he just want to make sure my family wasn’t suspicious? Or did he do all of this because he has feelings for me?

I want to ask him, but I’m also scared of the answer. If I misinterpret things, it could make our relationship awkward going forward. I follow my mom out into the hall, where Hayes is waiting and talking to my brother.

Hayes looks over and smiles. The concerns rattling around my head settle as he walks over and wraps an arm around me. I lean into him and hope that my mom is right.

Chapter thirty-two

Interview or Interrogation?