Meeting their parents sounds like my worst nightmare. Pretending to be his girlfriend won’t do him any good. They should love him, with or without a partner.

I shake my head, knowing I can’t do it.

“Blue, I’m begging you.” She grabs my hands, her round eyes pleading. “I promised E I’d get him out of this.”

“Then don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

As I walk away, I tell myself I made the right decision, even though her hurt sigh makes my heart ache.

CHAPTER TEN

INDIGO

I sit at my table—the one closest to the exit—waiting for my date to arrive.

People here are all the same. That might sound weird, considering how distinctive humans are, but this crowd must all be born from the same vagina.

The men are wearing identical tuxedos. The women have tried to stand out with updos and expensive jewelry. Each of them is eating with a ridiculously straight back and using their forks as if they’re dining with royalty.

At least the ballroom is pretty. Glossy hardwood, a spiral staircase to the second level, elegant floral arrangements. All the good stuff.

And as much as I’d like to focus on that — it’s what I usually do to distract myself from other people’s stares — my mind can’t stop wandering to Olivia and what she asked me to do.

It’s crazy, right?

How could I lie to their family with a straight face? I’m good at hiding emotions, but that doesn’t mean I’d use that skill to play with other people’s feelings.

“Indigo,” I hear my mother’s voice from behind. Goosebumps — not good ones — crawl their way from my back to the tips of my fingers.

I turn in my chair, feigning a smile, only to see her polished face scrutinizing me. Her hair is extra, as usual, with too many white hair clips obscuring her black strands. She has a disgusted look plastered over her features.

Since I moved out, I’ve gotten over hating her. Now I just don’t enjoy being around her or her shitty, unwelcome comments.

“I see you finally took my advice and lost some weight.” The fake smile she wears twitches at the edges, her red lipstick looking garish in the light.

“You know I’d never do that,” I say. Mom frowns, not understanding. “Take your advice,” I explain.

She scoffs, but still manages to do it elegantly. “Act nice. Rowand will be here in a minute.”

Mom leaves before I bother to ask her where Dad is. He’ll be here, as always, hiding. Ashamed of everything he did.

And he still acts like shit.