Page 59 of Broken Pact

I nod, a pang of guilt squeezing my chest when I realize that I didn’t exactly forget about it. I just didn’t remember. I mean, I would’ve remembered soon, I’m sure of it. But I kind of can’t believe I’d been so preoccupied by thoughts of a man. Blech.

Evangeline would never let me live this down. Which is precisely why I’m not going to tell her.

I recover quick enough that I’m mentally patting myself on the back. “Of course, I remember. I’m bringing biscotti for dessert. I thought we could have it with our after dinner coffee.”

Mom’s eyes soften, but there’s a hint of something else there—worry, maybe. “You’ve been working so hard, Coraline. Why don’t you let me pick up something for dessert.”

A lump forms in my throat and it takes me two tries to swallow past it. I know it’s coming from a good place—I know it. But it doesn’t ease the sting every time she tries to get me not to share my passion with my family.

I swallow and paste a smile on my face, the edges brittle and wrong. “Don’t worry, Mom. These are totally normal biscotti. No scary ingredients. Besides, they’re already made.”

She nods slowly, a small, hesitant smile playing on her lips. “Right, okay, well, you know your father will enjoy anything. Oh that reminds me, I saw Kelly Robinson at the store today, and guess what? Her nephew just moved to Maple Grove. I thought it might be nice if you took him out for coffee, showed him around town.”

My brows furrow as I try to understand what she’s saying. “Are you trying to set me up with some random guy?”

“He’s not a random guy, he’s Kelly’s nephew. You know Kelly. We went to high school together, and now she runs the Parks & Rec centers,” Mom reasons. She does these slow blinks, eyebrows raised like she doesn't understand what the fuss is about.

“Mom. Absolutely not.” I shake my head.

“Okay, well, what about one of your brothers’ friends? You guys could go on double dates or something,” she counters.

“Oh my god, Mom, no. I am not dating my geeky brothers’ friends. Hard pass.”

She tsks, the reprimand as obvious as if she used words instead. “Your brothers are smart, Coraline. That means their friends are smart too. Don’t you want to date someone like that other than . . . you know.”

Grant, she means. Is she never going to let me forget that lapse in judgment?

“Mom, I love you, but please listen to me when I say I’ve got it. My love life is doing just fine, thanks.”

Her face softens as she shrugs. “Well, you know what Nana Jo always said. The best way to get over someone is to get under someone else.”

My mouth falls open. It’s one thing to hear Nana Jo pop off with the most insane idioms, but to hear my straight-laced mom tell me to hook up with someone else to get over Grant is not something I expected to hear today.

“I miss her.” My admission is quiet.

Mom exhales through her nose. “I know, honey, me too. And I’m just trying to help. I worry about you, you know.”

I hesitate, the words on the tip of my tongue. I wasn’t planning on telling them about Jasper, but the thought of my mom trying to set me up with some random woman’s nephew—or worse, one of my brother’s friends—makes my decision easy. “Actually, I’m seeing someone.”

Mom’s eyes widen in surprise. “A boyfriend? Since when?”

“Recently,” I admit, shrugging a little. “His name is Jagger.”

Her expression shifts, curiosity and concern mingling. “Jagger? That’s an . . . interesting name. What does he do?”

Before I can evade any more of her questions, the bell above the bakery door chimes. Saved by the bell—literally.

I glance up, and there he is, swaggering in with two coffees in hand and that perpetual charming smile. My heart skips a beat, and I quickly turn back to the phone.

“Uh, Mom, I’ve got to go. I’ll see you tonight, okay?”

Mom’s eyes narrow slightly, but she nods. “Alright, honey. We’ll talk more later. Love you.”

“Love you too,” I reply, hanging up. I turn to Jagger, who’s now standing in front of me, holding out one of the coffees.

“For you,” he says, his voice smooth and confident.

I take the coffee, feeling a smile tug at my lips. “Another coffee delivery?”

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