There, in all its Facebook glory, is Isabella Marco’s post: “Sothrilled to announce my son Brendan is dating the lovely Scarlett Rossi! #BlessedMama”
Dating.As inromantically.
The post already has thirty-seven likes and ten comments, including one from a Marco relative asking, “When’s the wedding?”
I feel like I might actually throw up on Lauren’s phone.
Oh no, no, no.
Isabella Marco does not understand the ramifications of this kind of post. She’s the type who shares internet myths, fake news headlines, and family information that doesnotbelong online.
Like who her son is dating.
I sink into the nearest chair. “She posted it on Facebook. With heart emojis. And tagged me.”
“Isn’t this good news?” Victoria asks, looking confused.
“We haven’t told my family yet!” I whisper-yell. “Brendan’s picking me up after my shift for dinner with my parents.This—”I point at Lauren’s phone. “—wasn’t supposed to be how they found out.”
Brendan had warned me that Isabella Marco couldn’t keep a secret. I should’ve pushed harder for this dinner earlier in the week.
“How many people have seen this?” I ask, though I’m not sure I want to know. The fact that anyone has seen it means it’sout there.
“Well”—Lauren scrolls through the comments—“looks like a bunch of people I don’t know, and…oh.” Her brow wrinkles. “Do you know a Marion Henderson? She just shared it.”
“My parents’ neighbor? Yeah, I know her. The woman has never met a piece of gossip she didn’t immediately spread.”
My phone starts buzzing but I can’t even look at it. If it’s Mom or Dad, I’ll die.
“I need to hide in the back until this all blows over,” I announce, standing up so fast I nearly knock over Lauren’s coffee. “Or maybe I’ll just leave town. Or fleethe country.”
“Scarlett…” Gabriella starts.
“Nope!” I’m already backing toward the kitchen. “My family’s going to have a million questions when they see this.”
My phone rings and Brendan’s name flashes on the screen.
I stare at it, trying to decide what to do. “He must’ve seen the post. What do I do?”
“Answer it,” Gabriella urges.
The phone keeps ringing as everyone watches me.
“If you don’t answer it, I will rip that from your hands,” Gabriella warns.
“Okay, fine.” I swipe the screen and cut straight to the chase. “You saw the post?”
“She tagged me in it. To the delight of all the hockey players,” Brendan grumbles. He definitely hates attention like this. “Where are you?”
I stare at the cars passing by. “Trying to plan my escape route to South America under a pseudonym.”
He laughs and the sound of it makes me feel a little better. At least one of us still has a sense of humor.
“That bad, huh?”
I squeeze my eyes shut, thinking about how the entire town is going to know. “Brendan, your mother just announced our relationship to the entire town.”
“I know. I saw.”