Page 157 of The Surprise Play
“It’s funny.” Mom laughs.
“It’s embarrassing!” My hands hit the counter whenmy arms flop down. “Seriously, Mom. That’s like a living nightmare.”
“Oh stop. It’s not. We caught our daughter getting frisky with a man she loves. A man who loves her back. That is a beautiful, natural thing, my darling girl.”
“I do love him,” I admit.
“I could tell the second you two walked through the front door.” She beams at me. “And I’m so happy for you, sweetheart. You deserve a good man in your life.”
I brush away her words and focus on my coffee, curling my fingers around the mug as I watch her move around the kitchen the way I have thousands of times before. She’s my mom, and I couldn’t love her more if I tried. She’s the person I’ve always trusted most. Her and Dad. So, it’s probably okay for me to say what’s on my mind.
“It doesn’t feel real sometimes, you know?” I purse my lips and force myself to say it. “Guys like him don’t fall for girls like me.”
“What?” Mom turns to face me. “You mean funny, talented, intelligent, sweet girls like you? Yes, they do. They fall for them all the time.”
“No, Mom.” I frown at her. “You know what I mean.”
“No.” Her voice gets firm, her expression hardening to match. “What I do understand is that my beautiful, amazing daughter has found herself a boyfriend who knows her well enough to buy the perfect birthday presents and thinks she’s so sexy he can’t even go one night without sharing a bed with her. That’s what I know.”
My lips twitch and I try to soak in her compliments, wondering how I’ll ever explain this so she’ll understand.
Wily is wonderful.
He’s so incredibly wonderful.
And he’s sexy as all get-out.
He could have any girl in the world.
Which makes me worry that this thing we’ve got going can’t possibly last.
He told you he loves you. He gave you a coyote necklace so he’ll always be with you.
My brain is begging me to believe it. But some small part of me is still struggling…
Because I’m me… and every time something amazing like this happens, something horrible comes along to screw it up.
CHAPTER 49
WILY
Feeling a little guilty about how things went down last night, I sought out Mr. Satchwell when my girl fell asleep in the guest room. I really tired her out last night, and I don’t regret a second of it.
But I do regret all the embarrassment the broken bed caused everyone.
I find Darla in the kitchen, and she directs me to their family diner.
It takes me five minutes to walk there from the house, and the waitress who greets me bulges her eyes as soon as I tell her my name and then directs me to the kitchen.
Poor Mr. Satchwell is in there by himself, sweating up a storm and fighting tears as he slices onions, then turns to man the grill behind him.
“Hey.” I raise my hand in greeting.
He glances up, gives me a noncommittal grunt, and starts flipping burger patties. “I’m not supposed to be working this weekend, but my part-time chef called insick. And I don’t want to hit up my new lady, because she worked like a Trojan last week.”
“Looks like you’re the Trojan now. Can I give you a hand?” I don’t know shit about cooking, but I’m already reaching for an apron.
Hooking it over my head, I tie it behind me and walk toward him, wary of the hot spatula he’s waving around.
