Page 109 of The Chase

“Yeah. No game, and I don’t have plans. Do you?”

“No.” Crap. Why did I say no? Now there’s no reason for me not to go.

“So let’s do it. Dinner?”

“Sure,” I concede.

“Cool. I’ll pick you up at your place.”

Another laugh pops out. “That was so lame.”

“I know.” He chuckles. “Should we leave around seven?”

“Sounds good.” I hope he doesn’t hear the note of uncertainty in my voice.

“Later, Blondie.”

After we hang up, I instantly call my mother.

“Sweetie!” She sounds overjoyed. “You caught me at a good time. I just got out of a meeting.”

“I’m having man problems!” I blurt out.

There’s a second of silence, and then, “Okay, baby. Hit me.”

Laughter bubbles in my throat. I love this woman. “I have a date with one of my roommates tonight. Hunter. He went to Roselawn, but he was a year behind me.”

“All right…” I can practically see the deep furrow between her eyebrows as she absorbs my words. “Are you nervous about the date?”

“No, not really. But…” I let out a breath. “I kissed myother roommate.” Among other things. But what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.

“You kissed him before the date?”

“No, I didn’t kiss the one I’m going out with. Well, I did, but that was a while ago. On Saturday I kissed the other one.”

“Hunter.”

“No. Fitz.”

“Fizz?”

“Fitz!” I sputter. “Colin Fitzgerald. Mom, keep up.”

“Sorry, Summer, but maybe I’d have an easier time keeping up if your love life wasn’t like an episode ofThe Bachelor.”

“The Bachelorette,” I correct. “Okay. Pay attention. Hunter is the one I’m having dinner with tonight. Fitz is the one I kissed.”

“I see. And you have feelings for both of them?”

“Yes?”

“Is that a question?”

“No? I mean, I don’t know. I really don’t know.”

“Well, I’m not sure what to say to you, sweetie. You’re skimping on both the context and the details. I suppose pick the one you like more?”

“Mom! That doesn’t help at all,” I grumble. “Whatever. I’ll figure it out on my own.” I mimic her crappy suggestion. “Pick the one you like more.Come on, Mom. Get it together.”

---