Page 106 of That's Too Pucking Bad

I’m pacing around my room, changing my outfit for the third time. What if he doesn’t like my mom? What if they don’t get along? I bite my lip, trying to calm the nerves building up in me.

“Everything’s going to be fine,” my mom says as she walks past me in the kitchen, catching me standing there like I’m about to have a panic attack. “You’re just nervous because it’s new. You like him, don’t you?”

I nod. “Yeah, I do. But—”

She cuts me off. “Relax. He’s coming over for dinner. Nothing crazy is going to happen.”

I wish I could be as calm as she is.

I make sure I’m looking decent, not too casual but not overdressed either. I run my fingers through my hair one last time before I hear the knock on the door.

“Guess that’s him,” my mom says with a smile, and it makes me even more nervous.

I open the door, and there he is, standing in the doorway with a bouquet of wild flowers. A shit-eating grin on his face, like he knows exactly what he’s doing to me.

“Hey,” he says casually, holding out the flowers. “For you.”

I’m speechless for a second, just staring at them. “You didn’t have to—”

He shrugs. “I wanted to.”

I take the flowers, and he leans down to kiss me softly on the cheek. A kiss that has my heart doing stupid things in my chest.

“Ready?” he asks, looking at me like he’s already planning on what to do with me after dinner.

“Yeah, let’s go.”

We walk into the house together, and my mom’s already setting the table. She stands up when she sees us. “Zane, right?”

He grins, stepping forward to shake her hand. “Yeah, that’s me. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

I watch him, impressed. He’s not even breaking a sweat. He’s smooth. Too smooth. I half expect him to pull some kind of power move, but he’s just charming.

“Please, sit down,” my mom says, motioning to the table. “Dinner’s almost ready. I’m glad you could join us.”

Zane doesn’t hesitate. He pulls out a chair and sits right next to me. He’s close, his arm brushing mine, and I can’t focus on anything but how he smells and how my body responds to his presence.

We eat. We talk. It’s easy. Zane’s on his best behavior, charming my mom, making her laugh. I’m not sure if it’s because he’s trying to impress her or if this is just who he is. Either way, it’s working.

“You’re very polite, Zane,” my mom says, her tone warm but a little cautious. “It’s nice to see someone who doesn’t just think about themselves.”

He chuckles, glancing at me with a glint in his eyes. “I’ve got to be polite when I’m trying to get in good with the family, right?”

I blush. He’s not even trying to hide it now. He’s making it known. But for once, I don’t mind.

After dinner, my mom and I clear the table. Zane helps without being asked, and she seems to appreciate it. I catch her looking at him, like she’s weighing him, deciding what to think.

As we finish, she pulls me aside. “He’s a good boy, Remy. I can tell he cares about you.”

I smile, but there’s something else in her eyes. “But?”

She hesitates. “But it’s clear he lives a different life than we do.”

I don’t know how to respond to that. Of course, he does. He’s not like Colin. He’s intense, dark, the kind of guy who could break your heart without even trying. But that’s part of the appeal, right?

“He doesn’t mind,” I finally say, my voice steady even if I’m unsure of what I mean.

My mom gives me a look, like she’s not convinced but doesn’t want to argue. “Just be careful, honey. People like him... they don’t always fit in with people like us.”

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