Page 86 of Good Boy

She sighs. “I’m going to dump you one of these days.”

I cast her my most innocent smile. “No, you’re not.” And my inner Blake—who I like to imagine is holding a tiny hockey stick—does a happy flip because her remark implies that I’ve finally worn her down. We’re dating and she knows it. You can’t dump someone you aren’t dating.

“BLAKEY!” Mom shouts happily when Jess and I enter the house five minutes later. We caught her on her way to the dining room, judging by the two aluminum foil–covered dishes in her hands.

“Hey, Ma.” I glide over to kiss her cheek, then rid her of both casserole dishes. “Lemme help.”

She clucks her tongue in approval. “What a good boy I raised, helping your mother like—Jessica! I didn’t see you!”

Just like that, Mom abandons me for Jess, who looks a bit stunned as she’s enveloped in a bone-crushing hug. My mom gives killer bear hugs.

“Hi, Mrs. Riley,” Jess says shyly. “How’re you doing?”

“I’m great, honeybunch! Was cooking all morning, and everyone knows that cooking is good for the soul.” Mom fixes Jess with a stern look. “And I don’t ever want to hear those words leaving your mouth!”

Jess blinks. “What words?”

“Mrs. Riley. Pshaw!” My mom slings an arm around Jess’s shoulders. “You call me Ma or Mama or Annette. Anything else is unacceptable!”

“Noted,” Jess says with a nervous laugh. “Thanks for having me over again, Mrs.—Mama. Last time I was here, I left in an honest-to-God food coma. I can’t wait for another one.”

My mother’s expression shines even brighter. She likes people who like food. So do I.

“You’re going to love everything,” she informs Jess. “Papa Riley made ribs!”

“Oooh, sounds awesome.”

Mom turns to me. “Blakey, shut the front door please. We didn’t raise an animal—” Her forehead suddenly creases.

I turn around to see what’s got her all agitated. Through the door I left open, I spot a familiar silver Lexus pulling up the drive. The windows are tinted so I can’t see the driver, but… Fucking hell. The Lexus was here the day of Brenna’s baby shower too.

I slowly turn back to my mother. “Kyle trade in his Beemer for a Lexus?” I ask hopefully.

She shakes her head. “He’s in the kitchen with Beth and Britt. They came together in Bethy’s car.”

Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck.

“Hello, everyone.” Molly’s timid voice sounds from behind me. Those two words prick into my spine like a sharp needle.

This is Brenna’s doing, obviously. My sister always invites Molly to every occasion known to man. But this shit is getting ridiculous. I can’t even enjoy a nice relaxing lunch with my folks without having Molly shoved down my throat?

“Turn around and say hello,” my mother murmurs, her voice audible only to me. “She’s here now. We can’t be rude.”

I’m not the rude one. What about her? Why the fuck does she have to keep showing up like this?

I draw a breath to calm myself, then turn toward my ex-fiancée. “Hi,” I say tightly.

The smile on her face looks forced. I don’t even bother trying to muster one up. Jess does, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Hello again,” she says to Molly.

“Hi. Janet, was it?”

“Jess.”

“Oh, sorry. I’m so bad with names.”

She’s a lawyer. She can pull names out of her ass. I scowl at her before glancing at Jess. “Come on, babe. Let me unload these dishes, and then we’ll get you a drink.” I need a drink too. Or ten.

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