Enya grabs my arm, reading my thoughts. “Stop it,” she says. She hugs me, playing with the strands of my hair, her chin resting on my shoulder. “Be yourself.”

“This is pointless, Enya.” There’ll come a time when he must tell the truth. “What if they figure it out?” I take a step back, watching her face. “Oh my God, that would be so weird.”

It’s safe to say I’m freaking out. For the past two days, I felt excited about this dinner, but the more I think about it, the more I realize how stupid it was for me to be excited to lie to some innocent souls.

Enya shushes me. “They won’t, and even if they do, you were just being a great friend.”

I shake my head, cracking a laugh. How could this be a gesture from a great friend?

“I have to agree that I’m not okay with his way of handling things, but why don’t you take this as a day in which you’re destined to be the woman you want to be?”

I take what she says into consideration. A day free of judgment. A day dedicated to the confident woman I want to be. What do they say? Practice is key. Fake it ‘til you make it.

“No overthinking.”

I smile at that. “No overthinking.”

“That’s my girl.” She takes me into her arms again just as I hear a honk outside.

I breathe a sigh of relief as we break apart. “Okay.” Inhale. “Let’s do this.” Exhale.

“Love you,” Enya says as I’m walking towards the door.

“Right back at you.”

“Have fun.”

I nod and I leave, gathering myself on the front porch. I’m Indigo Hayes, a confident woman with her life all sorted out, and a boyfriend who is taking her to meet his parents.

When Elias sees me approach, he starts the engine. I’m surprised to see him looking agitated. He looks like he might break into a sweat at any second and his palms are gripping the steering wheel, slowly moving back and forth around it.

As I’m rounding the car, he keeps checking himself in the mirror. Like that will ease what he’s feeling right now.

I get in and eye him curiously.

“What are you smiling at?” he says.

I didn’t even realize I was smiling. I guess seeing him flustered has amused me.

“It’s going to be okay,” I say, although I don’t know how much it’ll help. I’m not used to reassuring people.

He laughs, the green in his eyes sparkles and I notice dimples in his cheeks that I swear weren’t there before. That or I didn’t pay enough attention.

“I thought you might not come.”

“Almost,” I admit.