Kate Marshall
"So...how've you guys been?"
My parents arrived twenty minutes ago and things have been awkward to say the least. First I gave them the tour of my tiny place, and that only took about two minutes, and then we settled in to eat the meal I cooked for us, nearly in silence.
They're trying hard to be supportive but they also definitely feel guilty that there are all these things about my life they're just now learning.
"Good. We've been really good," Mum said. "But we've been missing you. I'm sorry we were being so harsh."
"You're here now." I smiled and my mum seemed a bit relieved. But I didn't say it's okay because it's not. I'm still cautious about these two.
"So when did you find out you had a talent for writing? You never mentioned it," Dad said.
"I've had a journal of ideas for years but I just got the courage to show it to my writing team at the label a few months ago. They think I'm decent for a beginner."
"That's great," he said.
"Any boys?" Mum asked.
"Nope."
"Seriously? Even now that you're getting all famous?"
"No boys. Mum, I'm not even remotely famous, I have one popular song." I was brushing off the compliment out of embarrassment but I did appreciate her genuine kindness. "Plus, people could decide they're sick of this song in a week."
"Well don't be so negative about it," she said.
I wanted to say, "You mean like you guys were the whole first year of my career?" But I bit my tongue.
The unmistakable sound of my front door knob rattling caught my attention.
Oh shit. Please, no.
I heard the door swing open and I didn't have enough time to process before a voice could be heard from the entryway.
"I don't know about you," Niall said, not quite to the kitchen yet, "but I have had an exhausting day and I could use a good, long," he walked in and recognition crossed his face when he saw my parents, "chat with the Marshalls!"
His eyes were wide and he looked nervous but also it wasn't the worst save to his sentence. He stood there awkwardly holding a six pack of beer.
"Niall?" Mum asked. "How've you been? I barely got to talk to you at the charity auction. It feels like it's been years since I've seen you! Well in person at least."
"Hi, Mrs. Marshall. How are you?"
My dad got out of his seat. "Niall," he shook his hand, "good to see you."
"Katherine was just telling us that she isn't dating," Mum said. "Katherine, why did you say that?"
"I'm not dating. Niall and I aren't dating," I repeated, trying to figure out a way out of this. I'll just say we're friends. We are friends.
"Kate, baby, why would you say that?" Niall asked before leaning in and kissing my temple, one arm around my waist.
What the heck? I looked at him confusedly.
"Oh, come on. Don't be embarrassed!" Niall laughed it off and took his arm from around me.
"Excuse us for a sec," I said. I looked at Niall to tell him to follow me then went into my room.
"Yeah?"
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"What? It's fun."
"Except that we aren't actually dating."
"I mean, I was coming over here to have sex with you so what I said stretched the truth less than what you said."
"Yeah, way to save your comment on your way inside."
"That was a close call!" He chuckled at himself.
"Well you don't have to stay," I said. "I know you didn't come over to talk to my parents."
"I don't mind. Gotta make it believable, right?"
"I guess." I don't want to be in this lie. I'm good at lying in the moment but this seems like something that could grow beyond my control.
"Calm down. It's funny."
He leaned into me, surprising me a bit, and kissed me. Not as part of the act, he just kissed me.
I let myself enjoy the feel of his rough hand on my cheek for a moment. Then I looked at him, again confused.
"What? Just getting into character. Also, I've missed you." He shrugged and went back into the kitchen, not giving me too much time to question him about the kiss.
I followed him, nervous for the questions to come.
"Why on earth wouldn't you tell us?" Mum asked. As if we were on great terms the last few months?
Uh oh. She looks so hurt. She's trying to reach out and it looks like I'm not giving that same effort on my end.
"Uh, it's fairly recent. I didn't want to jinx it," I lied. Hopefully that sounded convincing.
My mum gave a little huff. Shoot. This was a horrible lie that's not helping my relationship with them. I'm getting more angry at Niall by the second.
"What's new in Mullingar?" Niall asked. He's better about being casual with this lie. He sat down and started helping himself to the food I'd made.
"Not much. The hospital is getting the new wing we needed, thanks to the auction."
"Well in that case, you're welcome!" Niall said.
"Niall," I muttered. My dad ended up laughing at it though.
"You did give a sizable chunk," Dad said. "We appreciate it."
"I love doing it. Especially when it goes back to my hometown." He turned to me. "Kate, babe, can you pass me the potatoes?"
He smirked at me. He knows I'm uncomfortable with this lie so he's milking it and going over the top.
"Sure, babe." I meant to sound sarcastic but I think I just sounded terse.
"Thank you." He had a cocky grin pasted on his face. It wasn't two seconds before I felt his hand on my thigh.
"Nope," I said, pushing my chair back with a scrape and standing up. I realized how weird that must have looked to my parents, who keep glancing back and forth between us. "I'm going to get the dessert."
I walked the few short steps to the counter and grabbed the tray of brownies.
"Mum? Dad?"
"Yes, please!"
"Niall?" I held the brownie up.
"I'll pass. I had something better in mind for dessert tonight."
I paused for a second, holding in the response I wanted to snap at him. Please let this be going over my parents' heads. I took a deep breath. "Well this is all you're getting here," I finally said, shooting him a look.
"Fair enough. Okay, I'll have one."
...
"What the hell, Niall?"
I've been holding in my frustration at him for two days. My parents finally left and now I can let him have it.
Finally left is harsh. It was a good visit considering everything. We're making progress.
He shrugged. "It was funny."
"It looked like I lied to them when I'm trying to mend everything."
"It's fine, Kate. I just wanted to have some fun with it!"
"It was embarrassing."
"What? That you could be dating me?"
"No, just the sloppiness of the lie."
"I think we were very convincing. They definitely didn't notice." I didn't say anything so he moved on. "Can we have sex yet?" He didn't look at me when he asked. No gentle touching, no trying to convince me, he just said it plainly. I guess that's all I should expect with a friend with benefits but still, I didn't like it.
"I don't feel like it."
"Kate," he pleaded with me.
"I don't."
"Why not? Cause you're mad at me?"
"You of all people know it's been rocky with my parents and that I want to fix it so bad. I just would've thought you'd treat it less like a joke or something to have fun with."
"Katie, don't be this way. You know I still care about that."
"It doesn't seem like it."
"Damn it, Kate, we aren't dating. You knew what you were getting into. I'm not your boyfriend! I don't have to worry about your parents, I can fuck around when they're here, because we aren't actually together."
I know he has a huge point and it makes me angry. I can't admit that he's right.
"Just go."
"Huh?" Niall asked, genuinely confused I wasn't going to give in.
"Leave."
"Cause I told your parents we're dating?"
"Because you don't care at all about how bad I want to fix things with them! You know, I thought I could do this whole no feelings thing but right now I just can't be around you."
"Katie," he mumbled.
"Stop."
He finally saw I wasn't giving in. He turned to leave looking dejected. I'm not going to let him make me feel bad for the way I reacted. I'm being nothing but honest about the way I feel.
For something that was supposed to be so meaningless, I feel pretty hurt right now.