Page 44 of One More Time
‘Chloe,’ her daughter said to Nicky. ‘Nice to meet you.’
Nicky leaned against the closet doorframe, and had the temerity to cross his socked foot over his un-socked foot like this was just a casual social gathering. In the closet. In his underwear.
‘Is she always so uptight in situations like this?’ he asked.
Chloe leaned a shoulder casually against the wall like she was settling in for a good long chin-wag. ‘Yeah, pretty much. Though there was this one time with my high school boyfriend—’
‘Oh my God,’ Lucy grumbled. ‘Nicky, can you put some … pants on or something?’
Without another word, Nicky winked at Chloe and closed himself back in the closet.
‘I’m sorry, Clo.’ Lucy grimaced and buried her gritty eyes in the heels of her hands.
‘Are you kidding me? This is epic, Mom. Completely badass. Good for you. Are you bringing him to the wedding?’
Lucy shook her head vigorously. ‘It’s not … it’s not like that. Nicky and I knew each other a long time ago. You remember I told you he was in my graduating class? Ages ago?’
Lucy did. She remembered it perfectly because Chloe had dug out Lucy’s old yearbook and upon finding Nicky’s picture had said, ‘I’d hit that.’ Oh, those cherished mother-daughter memories.
Lucy blabbered on, ‘We just ran into each other randomly … by accident actually, and—’
Chloe chuckled. ‘You accidentally ran into his dick?’
Deep masculine laughter drifted out from behind the closet door.
‘Chloe!’
‘Mom, chill. I’m glad you’re having fun. You didn’t, like, traumatize me or anything. I’ve seen you in your undies before. And seeing Nick Broome inhisdidn’t exactly scar me for life.’ She mumbled quietly, ‘Yikes, he’s a smokeshow.’
‘Thank you,’ came Nicky’s voice again.
‘You’re welcome,’ Chloe replied to the door. Turning back to Lucy she said, ‘You should bring him to the wedding. Bring him toallthe wedding stuff.’
Lucy’s pulse ticked up. ‘Nope. No. Nonononono.’
‘I’d love to,’ said Nicky through the door.
‘Good!’ Chloe exclaimed.
Chloe made for the bedroom door just as the closet opened again. Nicky stepped out in his jeans and that one stupid sock.
‘Don’t forget, tonight is the bachelorette.’ She turned to Nicky. ‘Sorry, that’s ladies only.’
‘Understood,’ Nicky replied.
Chloe went on, ‘But tomorrow is brunch with the dads.’ She turned to Nicky and asked, ‘You’ll be her plus-one?’
‘I’d be honored,’ Nicky replied.
Lucy protested, ‘But Kim—’
‘Kim will come, too,’ Chloe declared. Her smile brightened. ‘Don’t you worry, I’ll make all the arrangements. See you later, Nick.’
‘Can’t wait, Chloe,’ Nicky replied.
Chloe, who never could resist a parting shot, called out over her shoulder as she closed the door, ‘Make good choices, you two!’
Lucy could hear her daughter’s triumphant cackle as it drifted deeper into the suite.
