Page 117 of Falling for Her (Boston Love)

“We would,” Wes said as he looked from Reece to me and winked.

It didn’t take long for my mother to get back to grilling, though. “How long have you been dating?”

“We’re not dating, Mom. Reece is…he’s…um…”

All eyes turned to me, and I somehow managed to get the words out. “He’s a friend.”

“A friend?” Mom asked, looking between me and Reece. “A friend?”

“Yes, Mom!” I practically shouted. “A friend.”

Dad looked at me with narrowed eyes. “Angie, don’t raise your voice to your mother.”

I dropped my fork. “Dad, she is grilling Reece and me. Can we not just have a family dinner where Mom isn’t focused on my love life?”

My mother looked hurt, and I instantly felt like a piece of shit. “I was just happy you brought someone home. You could have told me he was simply a friend.”

“Could I have done that, Mom?”

Rory placed her hand over mine and softly said, “Angie, you might want to excuse yourself and calm down.”

“I don’t understand why you’re so angry. Is it wrong for a mother to want to see her children happy?”

“I am happy.”

She raised her brows. “Really? You don’t sound like it.”

I stood quickly, knocking my chair over. Presley cried, “Oh shit!”

“Presley!” Harmony cried out as Preston laughed, but tried to cover it up with a cough.

“Angie, sit down and stop throwing a tantrum,” my father said.

Reece stood, calmly walked over, and picked up the chair.

“I’m twenty-two years old, Dad. I don’t throw tantrums.”

“Angie,” Reece softly said as he placed his hand on my arm. “Maybe we should step away. You’re getting upset.”

Mom watched as Reece attempted to get me to calm down and leave the room to cool off.

“What is going on?” she demanded.

And just like that, the lid flew off the boiling pot. “You want to know what’s going on, Mom? I’ll tell you.”

Reece tried to step in front of me. “Not like this,” he whispered. “Angie, you’re going to regret this.”

My mother stood. “Angela Ward, what has gotten into you?”

“I’m stressed, Mom.”

Her face softened. “Okay, well, why don’t we talk about what has you stressed.”

“I’m pregnant. And I’ve been keeping it from you because I’ve been terrified you were going to judge me. Not to mention the second you found out I was pregnant you would demand Reece and I get married, and who knows what else you’d want from us.”

“Ohhhh man,” Finn said as he scrubbed his hand down his face.

“Angie,” Harmony softly said as she looked at me with a heartbroken expression.

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