I make for the soap and accidentally elbow her, causing her to smear her lipstick down her chin. “Oops,” I call out, not bothering to hide my pleased smile.
“It’s fine.” She grabs a tissue and dabs at the red line.
I don’t say anything. I don’t know what to do. I should be upset. I should want to bash her head into the sink, but I don’t. I feel eerily calm. I simply smile at her and dry my hands. She keeps glancing at me, waiting for me to make a move or say something, but that is what she expects me to do. Get upset and do or say something to justify her means. Not happening.
I rejoin Ezra at the bar and go for my drink with a shaky hand.
“Are you okay?” He questions and it’s now that I notice he is alone.
“Never better.” I down the rest of my drink and beam at my no-good piece of shit cheater of a boyfriend.
“Judy and Mr. Malvoy said it was lovely to see you. Our table is ready.” He places his hand at the base of my back, and I cringe while wondering if his hands have been on Judy today.
He guides me to the hostess podium to be shown to a table. One where his parents and mine are seated.
“What’s going on? I hiss.
“It’s a surprise. Don’t ruin it.”
The alcohol I consumed moments ago lurches in my belly and I feel ill.
“Conleigh, are you quite alright, you look positively sick,” my mother pesters with fake concern.
“Must be something I ate earlier.”
Ezra’s mother, Monica looks at my mother with a knowing glance. She must’ve told her about the three months in middle school I suffered from bulimia. I’m sure she failed to mention it was from all the stress she was putting on me to look good in my cheerleading uniform.
“Well, have a seat,” Ronald insists as Ezra pulls out my chair.
“Thanks,” I tell my scummy boyfriend with a clipped tone, trying to fight the urge to leave right now.
“How’s that campaign coming?” Ronald asks Ezra once he has taken his seat next to his father, Corbin.
“What campaign?” I hedge.
“Didn’t Ezra tell you? He’s handling all my advertising now. As my future son-in-law, I feel it best to keep business in the family.”
I cock my head towards Ezra. “Why didn’t you say anything, sweetie?”
“It was meant to be a surprise, but I had a brilliant idea that will save Ronald thousands and give me a reason to do this.” He pushes his chair back and our parents fall silent. “Conleigh Nicole Meyers,” he says, going down on bended knee and taking my hand in his. Suddenly a violinist appears at our table and the whole dining room goes quiet. “I never knew I could love someone as much as I do you. From the moment I met you, I knew you were special. I said to myself, I’m going to marry her, and she is going to give me beautiful children. I wanted to wait until you finished school, but why wait when I know what I want. I want you to be my wife, Conleigh. Will you marry me?” I watch in horror as he pulls a ring box from his pocket. He opens it and looks at me expectantly.
I always imagined when Ezra popped the big question that our families would be present just as they are now. I thought we, Ezra and I, would both even shed a few happy tears. However, nothing about tonight feels joyous. Nothing about tonight feels right. It feels forced. His words sound well-rehearsed and fake. I can’t believe he is pulling this right now.
“She’s speechless,” my mother interjects.
“The ring belonged to Corbin’s mother. It’s a rare diamond,” Monica offers as though it will weigh on my decision.
Ezra is holding the ginormous rock, ready to slip it on my ring finger. Everyone is staring at me and the room is spinning in slow motion. I feel like I am on a tilter world amusement park ride. An image of Judy looking like a clown with her red lipstick smeared across her lips flashes behind my eyes.
My phone buzzes from my clutch and I don’t know why but I grab it with everyone watching me like a sideshow.
“Conleigh. What are you doing?” My mother grabs a hold of my arm as I see Holden’s name on the screen.
Holden: Be at the bar around 11 am tomorrow to begin your training.
Dear God, is this a sign to say the hell with Ezra?
A red number one is glowing on my inbox for my email. I click it as Ezra growls. “Conleigh, I am asking you to marry me. Put down the damn phone. You’re making me look like a goddamned fool.”