Page 53 of A Scoring Chance

“As in Cooper and Beau’s mother?”

“One and the same.”

Fuck. Shit. Damn. I’m going to kill my fucking best friend. I’ve never been more embarrassed in my fucking life. Now I need to figure out how to tell Cooper that his mother has a pretty good idea of what we were up to last night. Not to mention Darius probably heard everything, as well. Fingers crossed he had his earbuds in like usual, although I highly doubt that since he was asking questions earlier.

“You’re officially on my shit list. You’re supposed to tell someone they’re on speaker phone when you answer the phone.”

“Sorry.” She sounds sorry, but I don’t budge. This is definitely a violation of the best friend code we came up with when we were ten years old. “I was so excited when you called I forgot to mention that I was driving, so I put the phone on speaker.”

“Or that Mrs. Hendrix was in the car with you,” I growl, trying desperately to keep my composure. I’d love nothing more than to cuss Alise out right now and let her know exactly whatI think of her stunt, but Mrs. Hendrix is in the car. If Ma has an issue with swear words being used, I can guarantee that Mrs. Hendrix will have a problem with the amount of f-bombs flowing through my head right about now.

“No need to feel embarrassed, sweetheart, and please call me Melanie. Everyone else does.”

Her voice is sweet and gentle, just as you’d imagine someone’s mother sounding, but Ma sounds the same way when she meets someone new. We call it the ‘company voice,’ and if I want the company voice to stay firmly in place, I better make a good first impression.

“Sorry, Ms. Melanie. You know I can’t do that. I would like to keep all my teeth inside my mouth if you ever meet my Ma,” I respond politely, holding my breath to see what else she has to say.

Cooper and I just kissed for the first time last night, his brother has caught us dry-humping on the foyer floor, and I’ve embarrassed myself in front of his mother on the phone. Now I have to meet both of them face to face for the first time and be seen with the entire family in public. Jesus, maybe I can find a way to rethink our plans for the day. Darius and Alise can go to the game, do the tour, and take all the pictures they want, while I hide out and try to wrap my head around everything that’s happened. Suddenly, this is too much too fast, but I have a feeling no one will be okay with this plan.

“Fair. I tell my boys the same thing. Speaking of your mother, Alise tells me Cooper met her yesterday.”

Alise has a big goddamn mouth. What happened to chicks before dicks? I know she is friends with Cooper and their moms are practically sisters, but couldn’t she have kept something to herself?

“Yes, ma’am.”

“And he behaved?” Judging by her tone, Melanie Hendrix isn’t a woman to be trifled with.

I’m slightly tempted to tell her he didn’t just to see what she’d do, but I change my mind. I’d love for Cooper to live through the night, and if Ms. Melanie is anything like Ma, it wouldn’t be a guarantee if she knew I wasn’t acting like I had home training when I met someone’s mother.

“Yes, ma’am. I’m sure my mother is halfway in love with him already.”

“That’s good, but what’s not to love about him, right?”

“Right.” My mouth snaps closed. I sure stepped in it this time.

I could have just let the comment go. I didn’t have to say anything at all. Now Cooper’s mother is no doubt planning our wedding, no matter how insane that might be. Not any more insane than implying I’m in love with Cooper already.

Thankfully, Alise swoops in to save the day. “Okay, then. So we should be there in about twenty minutes. I have a bag for you and a surprise.”

“A surprise? Why does that scare me more than it excites me?”

“Because you know me so well, but trust me, this is a very good surprise.”

Trust isn’t something I have a lot of right now when it comes to Alise. Don’t get me wrong, I trust her with my life and to have my back if shit goes south in a fight, but to bring me clothes to wear in front of Cooper and his family for the first time? I’m not so sure about that.

“The best,” Ms. Melanie chimes, trying to ease my worries. “She did well, and I helped, but don’t tell Cooper. It’s just as much a surprise for him as it is for you.”

A secret even his mother doesn’t want him to know. This can’t be good. “Why am I even more worried now?”

“Stop stressing, Mona. Just do whatever it is you planned on doing before calling me, and we’ll be there soon,” Alise responds before hanging up.

“Easier said than done,” I mumble into the empty room before flopping back onto the bed.

I showered and changed into another one of Cooper’s shirts and sweats I stole from his closet, but do I really want to stroll out there wearing these? Ms. Melanie, Darius, and Alise will be here in twenty minutes, probably less because Alise loves to keep people on their toes. I can’t even imagine what she’ll think if she finds me wandering around her son’s apartment like I own the place. I could just hide in here until they come. Alise will hopefully have a presentable outfit for me to wear, and then I can meet Ms. Melanie and Beau.

For the first time in my life, I completely understand what my mom means about never leaving the house without a change of clothes. You never know when you’re going to run into the guy you may or may not be dating’s mother and brother for the first time. Technically, this is the second time I’ve seen Beau, but I didn’t stick around for Cooper to make any introductions.

Too bad Cooper has other ideas. “Are you okay in there?”

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