Page 49 of Hate to Love You

Something instantly loosens within me at the information.

“Thanks.” I head for the door.

“You’re not going over there, are you, Brody?” she calls after me.

I turn and flash her a grin. “Of course, I am.”

Chapter Seventeen

Natalie

This has officially been the week from hell.

It kicked off with Reed and his lousy-lay comments. Then it got worse when Brody told the world-at-large that we’re now an item, which led to some pretty odd behavior from other students on campus. Not that I didn’t enjoy my free caramel mocha, but it’s definitely weird. I avoided Java House on Thursday and Friday, instead bringing a thermos of crappy coffee from home. In no way did it feed the need for my usual morning caffeine fix. It was so terrible, I could barely choke it down.

By the end of the week, I’d started wearing a ballcap low over my eyes so I would be less recognizable. That’s ridiculous, right? I shouldn’t have to live this way. I’m not famous or noteworthy. These people don’t give a crap about me. They care about who I’m dating. Well, let’s be real…fake-dating. I’m fake-dating Brody McKinnon.

Then there’s the situation with my dad…

And his twenty-seven-year-old fiancée.

Ugh.

Come Friday afternoon, I’d reached my limit. Even though I was supposed to meet up with Brody at some off-campus Greek party so we could pretend to be enjoying blissful coupledom, I don’t think I can plaster one more fake smile on my face. My quota for the week has been filled.

I’m done. Fed up.

Is it terrible that I hoped Brody would get mobbed by his adoring public at the party and forget all about me? Yeah, that didn’t happen. Instead, he messaged me, demanding I haul ass over there or he’d come find me.

I chuckle.

Good luck with that, buddy. He can scour campus all he wants. He won’t find me.

Zara dropped me off earlier this afternoon at my mom’s house, which is about forty minutes away from school in a neighboring town. As soon as I’d pushed open the front door, I knew I’d made the right decision in heading home for the weekend. I need some time to chill and regroup.

Because this was an impromptu trip home, Mom wasn’t able to be here when I arrived. She just got home about forty-five minutes ago from showing a house. I offered to make dinner, but she insisted on stopping at the store on the way home from work to pick up the ingredients for stroganoff, which is my favorite.

We’re talking ultimate comfort food. Which is exactly what’s required at a time like this.

Now that she’s home and cooking dinner, we’ve migrated to the kitchen. I sit at the island, watching her slice a chunk of beef into thin strips before dredging them in flour and frying them up in garlic and butter. The aroma is dizzying. God, but I miss Mom’s cooking while I’m at school.

Mom catches me staring and shoots me a smile as she continues prepping dinner. “This is such an unexpected surprise. I’m glad you decided to come home. It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve seen you.”

Even though Whitmore isn’t far away, I’m busy with school and Mom is busy building her career. We don’t see each other as often as we’d like. That’s why both of us appreciate this chance to spend some time together.

I nod, feeling the same. It’s good to be here. “I needed a break from campus.”

She flips the meat over in the pan and asks, “Everything okay?”

I shrug. “It’s fine.”

Her brows slide together. “Is there anything you want to talk about?”

There’s no way I’m sharing all of this drama with her.

How cringe-worthy would that be?

Remember my ex-boyfriend, Reed? Yeah, well, he decided to announce at a party that I’m a lousy lay.

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