Faking Perfection

Faking Perfection Shayna Astor Edited by Beth Hudson Edited by Caelan Fine Cover Designer Whitnay Edes (Cover Me Softly) Formatting Caelan Fine Faking Perfection Copyright © 2023 Shayna Astor This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, locations, events, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual person, living or deceased, or actual events, is purely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotation in book reviews. For more information, address [email protected] Welcome Welcome to the Brighton High School Reunion The Brighton High School Reunion features twelve stories from twelve different authors. From fun rom-coms to dark and twisty romances, there’s something for everyone in this collection.What has everyone been up to since High School? Where are they now? To take a journey with them and follow along through the Brighton world in each book.Although this is a shared world, each author has put their special mark on Brighton High School’s Reunion. Characters may overlap, but each author’s interpretation is unique. The Brighton High Series Pretty Ruthless by Em Torrey Color Outside The Lines by M. Bonnet Faking Perfection by Shayna Astor The Last Key by Bethany Monaco Smith Queen of Vengeance by Poppy Jacobson Reuniting with Desire by Bre Rose Up In Smoke by Cassie Lein Four Simple Rules by Aly Beck Settling The Score by Lyric Nicole Damaged Goods by MK Robert Infinite Dreams by Raja Savage Original Flame by Whitnay Edes From the Author Faking Perfection is a full-length, stand alone that features strong language, mature situations, explicit sexual scenes, alcohol use, self-doubt, and parenting. This book is intended for readers age 18 and up. Thank you so much for reading my novel! I hope you enjoy reading it, as much as I enjoyed writing it! Other Books by Shayna Astor Hot & Cold Shattered Pieces Own Me (A dark romance) Off Limits (Book 1 in the Limits Series) Love Me Not The Baker Sibling Series (Coming Fall 2023) Dedication To all the moms who are doing their best just trying to make it through the day. Contents 1. Chapter 1 2. Chapter 2 3. Chapter 3 4. Chapter 4 5. Chapter 5 6. Chapter 6 7. Chapter 7 8. Chapter 8 9. Chapter 9 10. Chaper 10 11. Chapter 11 12. Chapter 12 13. Chapter 13 14. Chapter 14 15. Chapter 15 16. Chapter 16 17. Chapter 17 18. Chapter 18 19. Chapter 19 20. Chapter 20 21. Chapter 21 22. Chapter 22 23. Chapter 23 24. Chapter 24 25. Chapter 25 26. Chapter 26 27. Chapter 27 28. Chapter 28 29. Chapter 29 30. Epilogue 31. Up Next 32. Acknowledgments 33. About the Author Chapter 1 Getting the mail. Just another menial task of the stay-at-home mom. A lot of people don’t appreciate the things we do day in and day out, which I guess on some level I understand, because I used to be one of those people. But now I am a stay-at-home mom, and it’s an entirely different ballgame. As I rifle through the envelopes in my hand—bill, bill, catalog, oh wait another bill— I stop and my brows furrow as I come to one that stands out from the rest. Flipping it over, I carefully lift the seam and pull out a thick sheet of cardstock. An invitation…to my ten-year high school reunion. Fuck. Has it really been ten years already? While I definitely don’t miss the hallowed halls of Brighton High, there are a few good memories. Very few. If not for Brighton, I wouldn’t have the life I do, which I appreciate, as I take the steps to the glass front door of my colonial style house. Trent was the star quarterback two years ahead of me. I certainly have fond memories of him and of our secret time together when I was far too young to be engaging in with him. I only say that now as a mom of three. If my daughters even considered doing what I did, well, I’d probably have an aneurism. But right now, they’re perfect children. My seven-year-old, Jessica; five-year-old, Kendall; with Charlie bringing up the rear, at three. I drop the mail into the dish by the front door with a huff. “Hey. What’s wrong?” Trent wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me into his chest. He’s always quick to notice when I’m off. “What makes you think something is wrong?” “You look like somebody peed in your Cheerios, and you’re a little pale. What’s up?” I take the invitation off the table and hand it to him. “Alright! Ten years. That’s awesome, Babe. It’s going to be fun. We’re going, right?” “Do we have to?” My whole face crumples with the prospect. “Don’t you remember how fun my reunion was? It’s going to be great.” His reunion was fun for him because he could go and drink and catch up with old friends. It wasn’t so fun for me. “You’re forgetting one thing. You were popular in high school. I was not.” Not even a little. I had my core group of friends, which was plenty, and we made it through just fine. We weren’t bottom rung, but we weren’t top tier either. We fell somewhere in the middle, and I think the only thing that helped me get noticed was once things came to light about me and Trent. He was a star, and I somehow managed to snag him. To this day, I still don’t understand how, except he said he saw something in me and had to get to know me more. Too bad I’ve turned out to be what I am now. A mom with no job, no career, zero prospects, who's the owner of a beloved mom bod riddled with stretch marks that’s topped off with a