Page 34 of Sour Notes

My god, I need to put an end to this madness.

“Mia, why on earth didn’t you tell me sooner? I could’ve cancelled your date with Silvia’s son. No wonder you didn’t like him. I’m sorry Swayze mou, I hope you didn’t mind…”

Ha. I minded. I minded a real fuckin’ lot, actually.

Mia blanches beside me, completely silent, her hands tightening into fists on her lap.

Say something, dammit.

When her wild, panicked eyes slowly lift to meet mine, my gut twists. Every trace of my beautiful, confident girl with a plan is gone.

I guess it’s on me to play the doting boyfriend. So much for ending the damn madness.

“That’s actually what pushed us to tell you all, Maria, so don’t worry. It all worked out for the best because now I can shout about my girl to the world.”

Most of the table collectively ahhs as Izzy, my niece, comes running over and scrambles onto Mia’s lap, laying her head on my shoulder.

“You’ll be my real aunty now, Mia. Can I be bridesmaid? Can the dress be pink? Or purple? Or maybe blue and sparkly, like Elsa’s!”

“Uhhh, it’s a little early for that, Nugget. We’re not getting married just yet.” Planting a kiss on her forehead, I tickle her little ribs to distract her.

She swats my hand away, not even the slightest bit fazed. “Duh, I knoooow not now. After uncle Niko’s wedding. Like next week or something?”

Everyone laughs as Izzy slides off Mia’s lap, skipping back to her mom, tugging at her phone.

“You’ve gone and done it now. She’ll have the dress picked out by tomorrow. I’ll send you a link.” My sister winks at me before my mom waves her hands wildly.

“Shhhhh I want to hear how they finally realized they couldn’t live without each other already.”

I squeeze Mia’s hand under the table, but she’s got a deer in headlights look on her face.

Oh, that’s just fucking wonderful.

This was her stupid idea. Now she throws me to the wolves and leaves me high and dry?

That’s some bullshit.

I don’t want to fake date her.

Why the fuck would I do that when all I’ve ever wanted was to date her for real?

There’s no way this’ll end well for me.

Thanks for nothing, Mia.

“Well, uh, we went out for a few drinks with our friends a few months ago, and they all left so it was just the two of us…” I start to bumble my way through an explanation, praying Einstein beside me chimes in with something, anything, to get us out of this.

She responds by digging her nails into my palm.

Oh, I’m sorry. Am I not selling your lie well enough for you, sweetheart?

That’s just fucking rude.

I tug my hand free, turning to face her, and drop a quick peck on her forehead. “Why don’t you tell them the rest, Angel?”

Ha. Take that Mia. You do better.

“Maria, my son calls your baby Angel. Isn’t that precious?”