LOVE ME JEJE

MEET THE FAMILY

CHAPTER ONE ‣ MEET THE FAMILY

I took a deep breath as I adjusted the serving platters on the kitchen island, glancing at Joe, who looked both anxious and excited.

"Remember to act natural or else she will suspect us," he had said earlier, and I could feel the weight of that statement settling on my shoulders.

Pretending to be Joe's girlfriend was shaping up to be more challenging than I had anticipated.

Joe's family was massive, and with every name and relationship he rattled off, my brain felt like it was nearing capacity. "Okay, stop telling me so much information. I can barely retain any of it, Joe," I finally said, trying to mask my frustration. I appreciated his enthusiasm for wanting me to fit in, but it was a lot to digest.

"Maybe I should cancel," he suggested, his brows furrowing with worry.

I walked over to him and rubbed his back gently, hoping to ease his tension. "Hey, I got this. I've known you for years. This will be easy," I assured him. I believed that—I had navigated tough social situations before. This, however, felt like a high-stakes game where one wrong move could reveal our ruse.

As the minutes ticked by, I busied myself in the kitchen, arranging the food to make it look as inviting as possible. I wanted to impress Joe's family, but I also needed to keep my nerves in check. What would they think of me? Would they see through the act?

The doorbell rang, sending a jolt of adrenaline through me. "They're here," Joe said, his voice tight with anticipation. I gave him a nod, trying to project confidence I didn't entirely feel.

When his mother, Lisa, stepped inside, I was immediately enveloped in a warm embrace. "Oh, finally. I've been waiting for this day. You're so pretty!" she exclaimed, pulling back to study my face.

"Thank you. It is nice to see you again, Lisa," I replied, forcing a smile that felt genuine enough. I could feel Joe's eyes on me, assessing my performance.

As the rest of his family trickled in—siblings, cousins, and an array of unfamiliar faces—I felt the room fill with a mixture of warmth and chaos. It was a stark contrast to the quiet of my own home, and I relished the energy. But with each new introduction, the pressure mounted.

"So, how long have you two been dating?" one of Joe's sisters, Summer, asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Joe and I exchanged glances, and for a split second, panic shot through me. We hadn't discussed this part.

"Umm... It's been about three months," Joe blurted out.

I nodded, playing along. "Right, three months," I repeated, though it felt more like an eternity.

"And we are just now finding out about this relationship?" Lisa raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying our half-hearted timeline.

"Uh, we were following the three-month dating rule," I said quickly, trying to keep my voice steady. "We wanted to move past the honeymoon phase and get to know each other better before we told anyone about us."

Joe nodded along, and I could see the relief wash over him as I managed to salvage the situation. "It looks like you guys are still in the honeymoon phase," Lisa said, her smile brightening the room.

"Definitely," Joe said, wrapping an arm around me, and pulling me closer. I could feel my heart race at the unexpected intimacy. It was easy to get lost in the moment, but I reminded myself why we were here: to maintain the facade.

As the evening progressed, I found myself mingling more comfortably with his family. They shared stories and laughter that filled the space, and I began to feel like I was part of something larger than just an act.