“Wait,” she set her fork and knife down. “You want to see Brent again! Oh my god, don’t tell me you’re going to wear his jacket and hope he’s there.”

My face turned red. “Holy shit, no! I would never do that.”

“You didn’t deny wanting to see him,” she taunted in a sing-song voice while biting into some pasta.

I rolled my eyes. “If I wanted to see him, I could march up to his house down the street and knock on the door. Besides, I’m somewhat seeing Garrett.” My head was leaned into my cupped hand and I pushed around some form of breaded meat in circles on my plate.

“I still don’t believe you didn’t sleep with him.”

“Dude,” I flicked my eyes over to her and scowled. “You interrupted him trying to kiss me. We didn’t even do that, but I don't think that matters now. He is not the type I should be getting myself involved with. The whole time, I was convinced he was going to murder me in the woods. With everything going on, I haven’t told Garrett I went on a date with Brent, but we aren’t exactly exclusive; he could be going on dates for all I know.”

My phone buzzed on the table and I was grateful to get out of the conversation with Kelly. I didn’t recognize the number, but the area code...

“Hello?” I tried to steel my voice despite my anxiety.

“Fallon, hello. It’s Mr. Evans. We need to start discussions on your transition process into acting CEO this weekend.” His voice was firm and left no room for argument.

I felt my heart sink into my butt. I knew what this meant despite knowing they’d come knocking for me eventually. When I turned eighteen, the rules were that I step into her shoes when I was twenty-one. Wishing I could hold off just a little bit longer, I sighed. “This weekend? I have schoolwork...and other...stuff.”

Great, very convincing. Very CEO.

“Yes, well, you have had plenty of time to romp and play. You will make time for a meeting with the board this weekend. Also, drop the exercise major–you’re becoming CEO. You need something relevant. I didn’t think I had to micromanage your behavior, but it seems like we will be needing an intervention this weekend.”

My mother wouldn’t have said that, unless she would. Maybe I didn’t know all facets of her like I thought I did. I knew her as a mother, not a businesswoman. “Yep. Got it.”