Page 12 of Masquerade Mistake
“I did not give you permission to change,” she says.
“I didn’t realize I needed it in my own house.” I shrug the sweater over my shoulders, and then check myself in the mirror. Surprisingly, it’s not bad. The dress is still tight and short, but the sweater adds the modesty it was missing. It’s definitely sexier than anything I’ve ever worn, but it doesn’t reach Maren’s level of vixen. I turn side to side, studying every angle before finally giving Maren the look of approval she’s been waiting for. She slips off her chunky boots and hands them to me.
“Try it with these,” she says. “They’re actually quite comfortable,” she adds as I eye their platform height.
I slip them on, and suddenly my five-foot-three height is more of a five-six, and I look tall and skinny. And she’s right—they’re comfortable. I feel like I’m on a runway as I walk across the room, testing them out.
“You look weird,” Finn says, studying me.
“Trust me, Finn, this is a good kind of weird,” Maren says, ruffling his hair. I wrinkle my nose at both of them. Then I turn back to my reflection. I definitely look weird, and if I could look sexy in a pair of leggings and an oversized tee, I’d do it. But this is a good alternative.
“Hey Finnster, want to go set up the Marvel marathon while I order us pizza?” Maren asks. Finn’s eyes lit up, and he bolts for the TV in the living room.
“You’re a good aunt, you know that?”
“Yeah, well, there’s an ulterior motive. I need him gone because you and I need to have the talk.” Maren opens her purse and hands me a couple thin square packages. My face flushes as I drop the condoms on the bed.
“We’re not having sex.”
“That might be your plan right now, but you and I both know how Finn got here.”
“Hey, if you hadn’t ditched me that night, I wouldn’t have ended up in a car with old what’s his name.”
She tries to hide her discomfort, but I recognize it immediately.
“Maren, I’m teasing. That was a lifetime ago, and both of us learned some hard lessons.”
“I know,” she says. But her usual fire is gone, and I feel bad. I sit on the bed next to her.
“If I could have taken away all the bad stuff that happened to you, I would,” I tell her. “But if it meant taking away that night, I’m sorry, I couldn’t do it. Finn is the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I give you partial credit for helping the stars align. But do I blame you? Not at all. I make my own decisions, and I was fully aware of what I was doing, even if I had no clue what would come of it.”
Maren nudges me and gives a soft smile. I know her mood shift has more to do with her past mistakes than about what happened with Finn’s father. There’s a lot she’s had to overcome, and while she’s a completely different person now, I know her past haunts her.
“Forget it,” she says, pulling me up with her as she stands. “I take full credit for that boy. I’m the one to blame for how awesome of a kid he is.”
“You’re right. I had nothing to do with it.” I groan as she pushes the condoms back in my hand, though I stick them in my bag anyway.
“You don’t have to use them, but it doesn’t hurt to just carry them. And you know I won’t judge if you do end up using them. The man is hot.”
“Being hot doesn’t mean he’d be a good role model for Finn.”
Maren shakes her head. “Claire Gertrude Myers, do not put that kind of pressure on this date.”
“That is not my middle name.”
“I’m serious. This is a first date, and the biggest reason you’re going is to just get your head in the dating game.”
“I thought it was to show him around,” I say.
She waves her hand. “He’s from around here.”
“What?” I glare at her, and she just rolls her eyes in response.
“You cannot be a spinster forever. Besides, I didn’t totally lie. Ethan moved away for a few years, but now he’s back. It’s possible this town has become unfamiliar and he needs a pretty girl like you to show him around.”
“I’m not a spinster.”
“You’re headed there, sister.”