Faked (Ward Family #2)(17)

"My apologies," I said, "if I managed to screw that up by existing. You'll be happy to know that he walked away before I could offend him terribly."

Adele ignored me.

"You won't believe this. He's only in Seattle for one night, and he's booked solid, so when I told him about the center, he invited us—including you and Lia—up to his place in Vancouver for the night!" Adele smiled so widely, I hardly recognized her face. "He wants to hear about our plans for the center, but ..." She paused, her voice fading as she realized exactly what she was asking, and who she was asking it of. The kid she tolerated. The man she basically ignored.

"But he wants the smart girl and the crazy snowboarder to be there too," I finished for her.

She nodded slowly. "He does."

I stared down the hallway where Claire had left a trail of dust in her wake. She'd need a hell of a lot of convincing, and I probably blew my chance by calling her out like that.

"Why should I help you, Adele?" I asked. Simply because of the time I'd get with Claire, I'd go, but I sure as hell wasn't about to make this easy on my stepmother.

While she tempered her excitement, I crossed my arms and tried to decide if I should feel bad for being such an asshole to her.

She slicked her tongue over her teeth, and I saw the moment she decided on truth, not bullshit.

"There's probably no reason," she admitted. "You and I have never gotten along, have we?"

"Well, I was four when you showed up, so yes," I drawled, "I'm sure I was a giant prick from day one."

My sarcasm wasn't appreciated.

Adele took a deep breath. "You were never easy, Bauer. Even before you got arrested, you made it painfully clear that you had no room for a replacement mother."

"Especially one who wasn't clamoring to fill the role," I said. The edge in my voice was as sharp as I'd allow, considering we were in public. Wisely, she heard it, acknowledged it, and tried a different tack.

She held up her hands. "This is not the time for family therapy."

"No shit? That's why I got all dressed up. Just for you, Mom."

Her eyes went flinty. "I don't even know why I try with you."

"Me neither," I said. "Didn't you know I'm a lost cause?"

She rubbed at her temples. "Bauer, please. I'm not asking you to pretend to be some big happy family, but will you come with us? He wants you there ... for some reason."

"One night," I said. Not because I cared. If he wanted to shove me and Claire together, I probably would've gone for a week, but I sure as shit wasn't going to tell Adele that.

"One night."

I set my jaw and stared down the hallway. Claire was probably safely ensconced in her Uber, thinking she'd seen the last of me.

"I'll go talk to Lia in the ladies’ room where we have some privacy," Adele said.

"She left."

"What?" she hissed.

I lifted my chin and held my stepmother's gaze. "She left because I said something that pissed her off."

"Oh Bauer," she murmured. "Of course, you did."

"I know, I wish Finn were here too."

Her eyes lifted. "I didn't say that."

"You're all wishing it. And that's fine. I won't argue he does better in situations like this." I nodded toward the exit. "I'll go and fix it."

"You will?" She shook her head. "Why would you—"

"Why would I help you?"

She nodded.

"Isn't that what families do?" I asked with only the slightest edge to my voice. "We support each other, through thick and thin."

Adele rolled her lips over her teeth and didn't say anything.

"I need to grab my phone and keys," I told her. "Text me the details, if you wouldn't mind, and I'll see what I can do."

It took her a moment to compose her face, but when she did, she actually attempted a semblance of a smile. "Thank you, Bauer."

I looked at the exit again, figuring that by the time I got my car and made it back to her apartment, she would've had enough time to cool down. Hopefully.

"Believe me," I told her, "it will be my pleasure."





Chapter Seven





Claire





"Get off," I tugged, then tugged again for good measure. "You stupid, stupid dress."

My voice cracked, and I absolutely refused to look at my reflection in the mirror. Earlier, I loved what I saw.

A princess.

Now, I could only hear that word spoken in Bauer's stupid, deep voice next to my ear.

The zipper refused to move underneath my shaking hands, and I let them drop so I could try to regain control of myself.

My eyes welled up with the frustration building inside me. Like a bucket had filled to the brim and couldn't contain anything more than what was currently inside, that stupid effing zipper was what tipped it over.

I felt stupid.

Stupid for saying yes.

Stupid for thinking I could pull off being Lia for the night.

Stupid for being excited about time with Finn.

Bauer's face, so close to mine, flashed through my head, and I pinched my eyes shut. That especially made me feel stupid. How ridiculous he must have thought me.