Even though the odds were low, I had told her he would be joining us for a belated New Year’s dinner on the off chance that my parents would be interested in getting to know the real him after the truth came out tonight.

“He’s not,” I lied quickly. “I didn’t know how to tell you yet.”

“Then why did I buy so much beef, Jing-Jing? You need to tell me these things! And you let me go on and on about him in the car like a fool! Oh, my face is so red. And, my goodness”—she threw a hand over her forehead dramatically—“we tossed away Hongbo for this!” She was spiraling fast.

“When did you break up,” the aunt demanded, through her teeth, more forceful this time. The girl’s parents looked embarrassed but also curious for the answer.

“We have to go,” I said, just as the girl answered, “Thanksgiving, right before Andrew and I met.”

Oh no.

My parents started yelling at the same time. I was ready to drop to my knees and beg the Dus for some privacy, but they were already backing away. Well, except for the aunt, who tried to stay behind, but, thank God, the parents ushered her along. Drew hung back for a second, unsure whether or not to leave me, but I hissed at him to go; his loitering only made him look more suspicious.

He had a mess to clean up, and right now, I had to mop up my own.

I dragged my parents over to a bench and sat them down. “I need to tell you something.”

“Yes, you bet your pìgu you have to tell us things!” my mother yelled as my father said, more calmly, “Start talking.”

“Okay, but just listen. To the end. Please.”

They listened to the end, but even though I didn’t know what to expect, their reaction was not one of the many scenarios that had played out in my head earlier this week.

As soon as I finished telling them I had rented Andrew, then fallen for him, and that he was currently on another assignment, my father asked, “When did you become such a liar?” at the same time my mother said, “So many lies, Jing-Jing! How are we supposed to know what’s real?”

“This. Right now. What I’m telling you now is real.”

My mother threw her arms in the air. “But this is the most preposterous thing you’ve told us yet!”

Yes, I slowly realized. Jesus, how had I gotten here?

This is why you’re coming clean now, I reminded myself. To do better.

My parents were staring at me like they didn’t know who I was, which was accurate.