Page 101 of The Singles Club
Huh.
“Wow. I’m happy it worked out for you.”
“Me too. Although, I don’t think his mother is too keen on the idea.” She rolled her eyes before taking a gulp of her wine.
“Why? She knew you were friends, right?”
“Yeah, she didn’t like that either. Always suspicious.” She grunted. “I don’t know what it is about mothers and their sons, but it’s like no woman is good enough for them. If you have any advice on how to deal with overbearing moms, I’d love some help.”
Apart from Lucas, I had never gotten to the level in any relationship where I met the parents… and if they tried, I’d always found a way out of it. It was easier with Lucas’s family since my father and his father already knew each other. And his stepmother, Maddie, was only concerned that I had an acceptable status. Other than that, she could care less.
Would Justin’s mom be overbearing? Protective? What if she didn’t like me? Butterflies weren’t just swarming in my belly… it was the damned Armageddon in there.
“You okay?” Becky asked. “You just went three sheets paler.”
“No, I’m fine.”
“So, what about you and Justin? Anything more than friendship starting to blossom?”
“He, ah…” I wasn’t sure how to answer.
Tanya set down another drink in front of me. “Hey, no man talk! This is Girls’ Night and your last hoorah before Paris. So, snap out of it and get ready for a night to remember.”
I laughed and clinked my glass with hers. “Let’s do it!”
Although I had to be careful not to overdo it. The last thing I needed was to meet Justin’s mom and dad for the first time with a hangover.
The truth was, I really wanted them to like me.
* * *
Justin slowed down in front of a large white house that looked like it came off the set ofFather of the Bride. Although the front yard was bigger. It even had a white picket fence and a tree swing. A freaking tree swing. Any minute I expected Spencer Tracy to step out onto the walkway to pick up his afternoon paper and Joan Bennett to stand on the porch to greet us.
I was so out of my element.
“Well, this is where I grew up.” Justin pulled into the driveway and shifted into park. “What do you think?”
“It’s pretty.” I gripped the handle of my purse. “Much different from where I grew up.”
He caressed the side of my face, and I slightly shivered under his touch. I resisted the urge to kiss him.
“You’ll be fine.”
I looked up, and a woman wearing jeans and a white cable knit sweater came running down the porch stairs. She had the same dark blonde hair as Justin, and it bounced as she made her way to the car. I assumed it was his mom, although she looked young, more like late thirties than late forties. Justin stepped out, and she mauled him into a bear hug. She pulled away, cupping his cheeks. She was a good foot shorter than him.
“Let me look at you. Are you eating well?”
Justin smiled. “I’m eating fine.”
“You’ll get a home-cooked meal tonight. Your father is making his famous pork tenderloin in the smoker, and I’m working on the baked macaroni and cheese.”
Justin rubbed his belly. “I can’t wait.” He looked over at me and held out his hand. “This is Vivian.”
She held a hand to her mouth. “I’m so sorry, that was rude of me. I just don’t get to see him often enough.” She walked up to me and held out her arms.
Oh. She wants to hug.
I leaned in, trying to leave a bit of a gap between our bodies, but she went for a full squeeze, crushing my breasts. When she released me, she grabbed both of my hands. “I’m Gwendolyn, but you can call me Gwen. Thank you so much for coming down to help with the dress. I’ve been going nuts with this wedding.”
