Page 23 of Josh Dalton

Josh stays at my back while we walk over to them. My friends gasp. They’re happy to see that I’m wearing the dress out in public. I stop and give a little twirl when we get close. The girls squeal, and Josh glares at his brothers.Get over it.

My friends huddle together like we’re sixteen, then someone hollers my name.

You have got to be kidding me. I thought Mom would be back in New York by now. She doesn’t like Chicago. I brace myself.

“Kimberly, what are you doing here? I almost thought I was seeing things. And you’re wearing the Versace gown. Ooh…” She hunches her shoulders and scrunches her nose like someone just passed gas. “I don’t know if that’s appropriate, dear. It appears you’ve gained some weight.”

I hate it when she does this in front of people. Now Josh has to hear her. I’m about ready to run away, crying, when Josh massages my back. He points at my mom with his free hand. His finger is shaking. “Don’t ever talk to her like that again, you withered old––”

I stop him from continuing.

Mom is livid.

“I’ll see you later, Mom,” I say, take Josh’s hand, and we make our escape.

“I’m sorry,” he says as we walk. “I shouldn’t have lost my temper like that.”

“That’s okay,” I tell him. “That’s okay.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

JOSH

Instead of strangling the woman, I say something I probably shouldn’t, and then Kim and I walk away. What a nasty person.

I look behind us as we near the bar. Her mother seems to have vanished. Hope she got the message and leaves her daughter alone.

Kim touches my arm. “It’s okay. That’s just how Mom is. I’m used to it.”

I hand her a drink and then take a sip of mine. “You shouldn’t get used to it. It’s not right.”

She drinks and wrinkles her nose.

“Too strong?”

She shakes her head. “I don’t drink a lot.”

“Let’s go find our table and sit. I’ll keep your mom away from you. Come on.”

I lead Kim over to my parents. Mom’s eyes bulge.

“Mom, Dad. You remember Kim.”

My mom, being her usual self, gives Kim a hug. She’s thinking about grandbabies. She hasn’t stopped talking about babies since Zoey and Ryder got married. She brings it up to him at least once a week. “Still waiting on that grandchild, Ryder. I’m not getting any younger, you know.” Ohh, she’s good.

Mom steps back and looks between the two of us.

“Are you dating?”

“Yes.”

“For how long?”

She’s scheming. “Not that long, Mom.”

I don’t want to get her hopes up. Not that I haven’t thought about me and Kim long term. I’m keeping it to myself for now. Don’t want to push it.

My dad steps in and welcomes her. “It’s lovely to see you again.” Dad takes everything in stride and doesn’t ask a lot of questions. He’s the total opposite of Mom, who is restraining herself right now from asking a thousand questions.

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