Page 38 of Not That Into You

I dab at my chin and shirt with a napkin as Cameron says under his breath, “I can’t take you anywhere, Matthews.”

“You should have thought of that before you dragged me here, Stanhope.”

“Where’s the wine?” the booming voice asks.

I turn to the elderly woman seated to my right as Cameron leans across me and says, “The wine will be poured soon.”

The sooner the better. This is already shaping up to be a long night.

“Grandmother,” Cameron continues, “this is my girlfriend, Monica.”

“Who?”

Cameron raises his voice. “My girlfriend.”

“You have a girlfriend?”

“Yes.”

“About time.” Cameron’s grandmother looks at me and squints. “Who are you?”

“I’m Monica. Cameron’s girlfriend.”

“Oh! You’re the girlfriend. Did you say your name is Maria?”

“No, Monica.”

“Are you related to Amanda’s girl?”

I’m not sure who she’s referring to, but it’s probably better not to ask. “No, I’m not.”

I lean back in relief as a server appears to pour glasses of wine. I’d really like to drain my glass in one gulp and ask for a refill before he moves on to Cameron, but even I know that would be gauche.

Efficient, but gauche.

“So, Cameron.”

Cameron looks up at his sister Grace.

“You’ve never brought a woman home before.”

Grace certainly doesn’t play around. Screw the niceties, she’s going in for the kill.

Cameron lifts his brows. “And?”

“Just making an observation.”

“How did you two meet?” his mother asks.

It’s time to play my part. Looking at Cameron with a smile, I do my best to broadcast abject adoration.

He smiles back at me. “We met through Hayley.”

“You’re a friend of the Windsor-Grays?” his father asks.

“I’m a friend of Hayley’s,” I say. “We’re roommates.”

“Roommates?” Grace’s expression is quizzical. “Why would Hayley need a roommate?”

---