Page 87 of The Wrong Date Deal

“Me too,” Piper replied, feeling as though her insides were melting.

“Yeah?”

She laughed. “I don’t think I’ll need to make an ‘I just had a terrible date call’ afterwards, if that’s what you’re asking.”

August laughed too, and Piper couldn’t help but marvel at the sound and the fact that she was the one who got August’s laughs.

Piper was such a sucker when she liked someone.

A considering, amused look settled on August’s face as they turned on the spot together. “What’s the worst date you’ve ever had that I don’t know about?”

Piper laughed. She’d told August plenty of tales about bad dates, but there was one that held a special place. “The guy who brought his mother along.”

“What?” August asked, eyes wide.

“Yeah. It was so awkward and embarrassing that I almost never talk about it.”

August winced. “I’m sorry. You don’t have to tell me.”

“No, no. I want to.”

“Well, if you’re sure…”

Piper smiled. She was absolutely certain. “I’d wanted to go for dinner at Peruglio’s formonths.Do you know the place?”

“Yeah. Fancy restaurant on 5th, right?”

“Exactly. I’d been holding onto it because…” She shook her head. “Well, because it costs a fortune and because I wanted it to be special. But, I’d been talking to this guy for months, it seemed to be going well, and, entirely unprompted, he mentioned wanting to take me to Peruglio’s. So, you know, it felt like a sign or something, and I agreed.”

“I already feel stressed for you,” August breathed as she twirled Piper momentarily away from her and back into her body.

Piper’s breathing stumbled as August’s fingers gripped her hip and she almost lost her train of thought. The guy, and his mother, and the weird date were a distant memory in comparison to the feeling of August against her, holding her.

She cleared her throat. “I arrived, the restaurant was beautiful, the service from the second you open the door is impeccable, and they tell me my party has already arrived.”

“Oh, no.”

“Yep. So, I just thought it was fancy restaurant speak, you know? Like, sure, my party ofone other person. Whatever. But, nope. I’m led to a table—one that’s really only suited to two people on a date, which I can only assume the guy insisted on—and there he is. With an older woman.”

“His mother.” August cringed while saying it, not a question at all since they both knew where this was going.

“Who, by the way, he hadn’t mentioned at all in his messages.”

“You’re kidding?”

“I wish I was.”

“Yikes.”

Piper nodded. “So, yeah, I sit down and she doesn’t really say anything, just starts assessing me. As in, she was watching everything I did and making mental notes.”

“Didhesay anything?”

“Not at first. Just asked how I was doing, how the journey over was, if I liked the restaurant… Usual first date stuff, but all whilehis motheris just sitting there with her knee pressing into my leg under the table.”

“Oh, my god.”

“Yep. He did finally introduce her, at which point, she essentially took over the date. She started asking me all these questions about my background and education, my job, my aspirations for the future.” Piper shook her head, shuddering at the memory. “Turns out she didn't think working in music distribution was any good and, apparently, I needed to shoot for being a producer or composer if I wanted to have social and cultural capital.”

---