“Is your family anyone I know then?” she asked.
“Uh, I—” I didn’t know quite what to say. I didn’t feel comfortable talking to a stranger about my origins even if that person was Tate’s mother.
“San Diego is quite huge, mother,” Tate said, coming to the rescue. “You can’t possibly know everyone around.”
“I’m pretty sure I’m acquainted with everyone who is of importance.” She turned to me with a false sense of innocence. “No offense meant, dear. I’m making an effort to know more about you as you’re the first boyfriend my son has ever introduced me to.”
“He’s the first boyfriend I’ve ever had, mother.” Tate’s tone was barely tolerant. He was becoming annoyed by her and I didn’t know her well enough to try to divert the clash I could sense coming. I would have wanted to be anywhere but there, however, I was stuck in the middle.
A shadow fell over our group as someone joined us and I was relieved for the interruption of the direction the conversation was heading. The relief remained all of a couple of seconds before Gio fully materialized before us. I didn’t miss the way he attached himself at Tate’s other side. Inside I seethed with loathing for the guy.
“Mrs. Rosenbaum, is it just me or do you get younger with every birthday?” he flattered Tate’s mother.
The woman preened, her eyes lighting up in a way it didn’t even do when she had seen Tate. “Giovanni, darling. You always say the nicest things.” She allowed herself to be kissed right on the cheek by him while she had only extended her hand to me. I tried not to think much of it but reminded myself she would have known him for a long time.
“Just speaking the truth, ma’am.”
“I’m delighted you showed up.” She waved a hand between Tate and Gio. “When Tate introduced me to his boyfriend I wasn’t certain if you would still make it, although you did promise you would be here.”
“Why’d you even think that?” Tate asked, frowning at her.
She laughed and fanned herself. “Well, to be honest, Tate, when I first learned you were bisexual, I thought you would end up with Gio. I know it’s silly but you were always so close and well just look at you. You two are handsome together. You both run your own businesses.”
I’d had a feeling during the introduction Tate’s mother didn’t take a liking to me but her direct snub, pairing off Tate and Gio before me was just of poor taste. She was no fool and knew exactly what she was doing. It was plain as her fake nose that she was deliberately being rude.
“Mother,” Tate warned.
Gio placed a hand on Tate’s shoulder. “She doesn’t mean any harm by it, do you, Mrs. Rosenbaum? Besides, I’m sure Bryan knows we’re all just joking. What does it matter if he’s a dishwasher at a restaurant? All that matters is love.”
Mrs. Rosenbaum turned shocked eyes to me. “You’re a dishwasher?”
How did I even begin to give her a dignified response when her tone was full of such disdain? Correcting her that I was a waiter and not a dishwasher would hardly be an upgrade in her eyes.
“Like Gio said,” Tate remarked and shrugged off his friend’s hand. “It hardly matters now, does it? We’re happy together and that’s good enough for me. It doesn’t get better than that.”
I fell a little bit more in love with Tate at his words, and the way he gazed down at me reminded me that he was right. It didn’t matter what his mother believed, although it sucked she didn’t like me.
“If you’ll excuse me, I want to show Bryan around,” Tate continued and reclaimed my hand. “We’ll be back shortly.”
I made to smirk at Gio. He did deserve it after all. At the look of hurt in his eyes, I couldn’t go through with my gloating that Tate continued to choose me. I felt pity for him and for the first time I tried to understand his emotions. It couldn’t be easy seeing the man you love with someone else.