“Kendall. Come on,” Erika says, a tinge of doubt now permeating her tone.
I pounce on that ounce of doubt and hold on for dear fucking life. “My name’s Mila. And no, I’m sorry, I don’t go to school around here. I’m out for a hike with my…my family.” I gesture to the rest of the Gwynns, who are now gathered around, their faces drawn in various expressions from confusion to concern to bemusement.
Ozzie, too, doubles down. He pulls me tighter, planting a kiss on the side of my head. His breath wafts through my hair, sending tingles across my scalp, and for that second, I feel the realness of his touch. I want this feeling of protection and safety to go on forever.
“That’s right. This is my fiancée Mila. I’m Ozzie. Sorry for the confusion. We have a big day ahead of us, so if you’ll excuse us.”
I smile and wave politely and then turn away from Erika. I feel her eyes on my back as we all head up the hill through the woods. She doesn’t say another word.
By the time we arrive back at the Gwynn house, I’m feeling emotionally wrung out from the adrenaline rush and the receding panic.
That was close. And I don’t think she bought it.
She’s probably texting Crypto right now.
* * *
Although Ozziestill can’t keep his hands off me during the big family dinner, I feel unease in the space between us.
Is he upset that I lied to Erika? Does he know yet? Does he know what I did to get to this point in my life?
Is he having second thoughts about last night?
Well, he should. I warned him my life was a mess. I know he was helping me cover my ass back there with Erika, though he wasn’t sure why.
And I’m emotionally eating now, stuffing my face with Emmeline’s cooking.
“My God, these sweet potatoes,” I mumble, helping myself to another scoop of the pecan-crusted casserole.
Emmeline beams.
“It’s Mom’s specialty,” says Sawyer.
I have to control myself from moaning out loud. “Back home, the only time I’ve had sweet potatoes are with marshmallows, and it’s…not like this at all,” I swoon.
At the word “marshmallows,” every Gwynn at the table hisses and boos. Except for Ozzie. “I kind of like the kind with marshmallows.”
“Freak!” cries Bryan, chucking a roll at his marshmallow-loving brother.
Tabitha scoffs. “Please stop manhandling my rolls.”
“Gross, sister. That’s Eden’s job,” Melinda points out.
Various sounds of retching and guffawing fill the room. Ozzie squeezes my knee under the table. I look over at him, and his intense gaze is almost too much to bear. He’s so kind, so open-hearted, and beautiful. His entire family is. I’ve never been the recipient of so much kindness and acceptance without conditions.
My heart is already breaking because, after that confrontation in the woods, I know I’ll have to leave them sooner than planned. And I do not want to leave them.
And this time, I don’t have Khaz looking out for me. I’ll have to stand on my own two feet and figure out something else. Maybe I can make it to Mexico with the money left in my account. And when I burn through that money? When they kick my ass out of Mexico? I don’t know, but again, I’ll figure something out.
I don’t know. I simply don’t know what purpose my life has now without college. Without Beta Beta Psi, without Pine Mountain University. Without the Gwynns, without Khaz. Without Ozzie.
Shit. This feels like the day my parents disappeared. Like the floor has dropped out from below my feet.
I feel like my skin might burst open with sadness and regret, and pain.
I’m such an asshole for leading these sweet people on. For letting them fall in love with me. For letting them believe that I love their son.
Carl clears his throat and pushes his plate away. “All right, alright. It’s that time, folks.”