y am.
“To drive you wild.”
He grunts.
“Is it working?”
“What do you think?” he snaps.
Yes.
No.
I honestly can’t read him well any more.
The conversation ends, though, as we pull up into the ridiculous circular drive in front of Langston’s stepmom’s house. Each of our doors is opened by a valet, and I take an offered hand helping me out of the car like we are about to attend a grand ball instead of a house party in Miami’s richest area.
As soon as I get out of the car, I feel Langston brushing the valet’s hand away from mine. He takes my arm carefully, like he’s afraid that touching me is going to cause his hand to fall off.
I grab his arm more forcibly. “Holding my hand isn’t going to kill you.”
“Pretending that you’re my girlfriend might.”
I narrow my eyes. “If you don’t want my help, then you can do this yourself.”
“Fine, I’m sorry. Let’s just get this over with.”
I smile. “Follow my lead.”
I spot our target and walk over to the stepmonster, who is talking excitedly with a group of chatty women. This will do perfectly to make our introduction.
“Introduce me to your stepmom with your charming smile,” I say.
He frowns.
“Just trust me. Introduce me, I’ll do the rest.”
Langston leads me over and clears his throat as he approaches. “Ladies,” he smiles at the women, laying on the charm. Then he looks to his stepmom. This part will be the hardest. “Mother, I’d like to introduce you to my girlfriend, Liesel Dunn.”
He calls his stepmom ‘mother’ like she likes as he puts his hand on the small of my back with a bright, charming smile.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Pearce. I’ve heard so much about you.”
Mrs. Pearce looks at me, hesitantly. She likes that Langston is here, that he called her mother, and that I look like a high-class girlfriend in my expensive dress. I just need to sell that I have money just like her, and then she’ll approve of her stepson’s choice in women.
“I’m sorry we were late. Langston had to pick me up on Fisher Island,” I say, giving Enzo’s house address. She doesn’t have to know that the only reason my address is the same is because I live in the guest house while my mother works in the main house as a maid.
“Oh, it’s a pleasure to meet you, my dear.” Her eyes light up as she looks from Langston to me.
I gently lean into Langston’s side, selling the appearance that we are boyfriend and girlfriend.
We pretend to be interested in what the women are saying for a while, before excusing ourselves.
“How did that help anything?” Langston asks.
I grab his tie and pull him into the nearest bedroom before I kick the door shut behind me.
“Your stepmom is happy. She’ll think I’m good for you and start to trust you a little more. She’ll tell your dad, who won’t believe her and will come to us.”