Page 49 of Unwrapped

“What? You never considered your mother seeing me naked?”

Despite the seriousness of the situation, I start to laugh. He soon joins me, and our laughter fills the downstairs. Even Sadie joins in because she runs to us and barks.

“You’re taking this better than I thought you would, considering.”

“Yeah, I’m surprised at myself, really. I think I’m relieved that the secret’s finally out.”

“And you’re here with me,” he says, kissing my forehead.

“I told you I would be, you big jerk.”

“Listen, sweets. I love you and your parents love you. That’s a whole lot of love. We’re going to fix this, okay?”

I hope so but based on the ugly scene that took place when I went upstairs with Nick, I’m not holding my breath.

Mom paces the living room floor, angrily stomping on the hardwood. The minute we arrive upstairs, she stops and stands still, mouth open and breathing hard as she looks at our linked hands.

“No! No! This cannot happen.” She turns to my father, who’s also looking at us but with less venom in his eyes. “Nigel, stop this.” Then she turns back to Nick. “You,” she says, slowly approaching him, “get out of my house and stay the hell away from my daughter.”

I feel him stiffen next to me at her hostility, but then he pulls me closer and throws his arm protectively around my shoulder.

“I’m sorry for the way you found out, but as long as Miranda wants to be with me, I’m not going to stay away from her, Mona. I love her.”

“Jesus,” Dad mutters. He drops his head in both hands and rubs his face. When he finally looks up, he sits back in his chair and looks at us.

“You love her?” my mother asks, eyes wide and mouth agape.

“I do.”

“And I love him, Mom.”

“Oh, my God,” she says, putting a hand to her forehead. “I can’t hear this. I can’t. You just met. You can’t be in love. No! I won’t allow this to happen.”

“What is the big deal, Mom?”

She turns back to me, eyes wider than before, if that’s even possible, as she takes a few menacing steps toward us. This gets my dad out of his chair. He’s by her side within seconds, but he makes no move to grab her.

“What is the big deal, Miranda?” She points her index finger at me, but she stops her approach. “The big deal is that he is my boss.” She says the wordbosswith such disdain that I cringe. “The big deal is that I’ve worked for this company for almost three decades, and now I have to quit. The big deal is that he’s taking advantage of you and you’re too blinded by lust and his pretty face to see it! The big deal is, Miranda, that your bad judgment affects this entire family, not just you! The big deal is that my daughter has been lying to me for weeks. Did you two have a good laugh behind my back? Every time I complained about him, did you run back and tell him so you two could laugh at my expense?”

“Mona,” my father begins.

“No, Nigel! This is not the time for you to go against me. Take my side for once.”

“Woman, I am always on your side. I’m making sure you don’t say something you can’t take back.”

“Mom, this really isn’t about you, and you don’t dictate who I can be with.” When she looks at me again, instead of anger, I see disappointment. She lowers her head and shakes it.

“Is that all you have to say? You’re throwing out the adult card when you’ve been lying and sneaking around? Yeah, you’re a grown-ass adult.”

The words hurt considering the source. It’s not often that my mother is upset with me, but I can deal with her anger more than the disappointment I see in her eyes.

“Mona,” Nick begins. “You do not have to quit. You’re a valued and loyal employee. My relationship with Miranda has nothing to do with your job.”

Mom is not appeased by his statement.

“I don’t want you with my daughter,” she says, pointing at him.

“With all due respect, Mona, that’s not up to you. That’s only up to Miranda, and I already know where she stands.”

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