Page 39 of Gross Misconduct

“I’m fine. I wanted to connect.”

Apparently, that was an invitation for Mom to tell me about Dad’s latest troubles with gout. She detailed that it got so bad, Dad could barely walk before he went to see the doctor to get medication for it. Then she got into the small snowstorm they’d had and how glad she was that they’d planted the garlic. Finally, I got a detailed summary of what my brother was up to and how Gwen still hadn’t changed her mind about kids. Whenshe was finally finished, I knew it was time to get down to business.

“I told you both that I’ve been dating someone. Well, Jill and I have been getting pretty serious. She’s like no one I’ve ever met before. I wanted to tell you both before news gets out.”

Mom gasped because she already knew where this was going. She couldn’t wait to marry off her boys and have grandchildren. Little did she know …

“I asked Jill to marry me, and she said yes.”

Mom shrieked so loud I had to hold the phone away from my ear. Once she was done, the first thing she said was that she wanted to meet Jill. I knew that was coming.

“You can come for Christmas,” she said. “Even if it’s just a few days. We want to meet the woman who is joining our family.”

My heart ached a bit at hearing that because Jill was never going to join the family, and eventually I’d have to let Mom down. “I’ll ask her. She may want to go back home to Minnesota where she is from.” Fat chance of that, but I figured there was a fatter chance she’d want to meet my family.

“You insist on it. If she doesn’t want to come out here, we can come there for Christmas.”

And that would be worse. “Let me talk to her. I’ll get back to you. We also got a dog. I’ll send you some pictures. Her name is Chloe.”

Since it was nearing dinnertime back home, Mom got off the call, leaving me with Dad. As always, Dad saw through my shit. He’d been doing that since the day I was born.

“Are you getting engaged to distract people from this Lex nonsense? Do not rush into marriage with someone you barely know to get people off your back.”

“It’s not that,” I said.

“Then you better make your mother happy and come for a visit.”

“I’ll do my best.”

I got him off the topic of Jill and on to hockey. We discussed the Kodiaks, and when it was time for Dad to eat, we ended the call, but nothing about it had felt good. I hated lying to my parents, but it was all for the greater good. Right? At least that’s what I kept telling myself.

Chapter Twenty

Jill

Idelayed calling my mother and called Tangi and Wolseley first. But since it was just before the dinner rush back home, Wolseley couldn’t talk. I told Tangi everything right down to Jeremy sort of moving in with me. Tangi’s reaction was hysterical laughter—for a few reasons. Jeremy was telling Ethan at the same time, and Tangi couldn’t believe what had happened.

“Well, congrats on your engagement. Have you set a date?”

“Oh shut up,” I grumbled.

“How did you get yourself in this mess?”

“Because Jeremy went rogue. My mistake was mentioning to him that you’d mentioned getting engaged as a joke. That’s how he got the idea. Now I have to tell my mother. Do you think I want to call her?”

“Probably not.”

While I spoke to Tangi, I prepped the spare bedroom. I’d already thrown the sheets in the wash to freshen them up, and as I dusted, Chloe followed me around. When I was done and settled on the couch, she joined me and rested her head on mythigh. Her sweet eyes were looking up at me, and I couldn’t help giving her some pets.

“I have no idea what the plan is. I guess he stays here part of the time, not that I think anyone is watching, but it would be nice to have us both bond with Chloe together.”

“Whatever you say,” she said with a chuckle.

I scowled. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“I don’t think you’re going to mind having him around. But enough about that. When do we all get to meet Chloe?”

“How about tomorrow? After practice?”

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