Page 106 of Rock Me All Night
"Yes. Miles. You'd like him." Why would she like him? Dammit, how does thisparents meeting the boyfriendthing work?
"What's your mom like to do for fun?" Miles whispers.
"Give me a second, Mom." I cover the receiver with my hand and whisper to Miles. "She doesn't have time for fun. She's a surgeon." I rack my brain. Nobody in my family has had fun in a while. "She likes mythology. And foreign films."
"Skip that part. Invite me over for Thanksgiving," he says. "Trust me. She'll be excited that you want to introduce me."
That doesn't sound like Mom, but I'll try. I turn back to my cell. "Sorry, Mom. He's a little distracting. He really wants to meet you guys. Do you think he could come with me for Thanksgiving?"
"You're coming home?" Her voice perks up. "Of course, honey. We were hoping you'd come home. You don't have work?"
"No. My supervisor gave me the entire week off." I bite my tongue. There's no getting out of this now. "Miles, he doesn't have a lot of family around here. I know he'll appreciate this."
"Yes. It will be nice having company since we don't…" Her voice breaks. "You two can stay the weekend. Or just Thursday. Your father is working Friday but it's the early shift. Then the weekend—well, you know the drill."
Ah, the virtues of having a surgeon and an ER doctor for parents. They're always working. If I'd been the type to get in trouble, I could have taken advantage of their busy schedules during high school.
Actually, it's remarkable that they both have Thanksgiving off. Usually, we have dinner at an off time to accommodate their schedules.
"Have you thought about schools?" Mom asks. "UCI's program is improving. You could stay here. It would save you the trouble of finding a place."
"I'm thinking an East Coast school." This isn't where I want this conversation going. I look to Miles for direction.
He shakes his head. "Ask her how she's doing. About work or a hobby."
Yes, of course. It sounds so obvious when he says it. I turn my attention to my phone. "How is work?"
"Busy, of course. Dr. Lee is opening a private practice. She invited me to join, but I'm not sure I can leave the hospital." Mom's voice lifts. This is something she can talk about. "Is Miles at your place, honey? Or are you at his?"
"His."
"And you're being safe?"
Oh God. I'm going to die of embarrassment. But this is nothing. Mom is a surgeon who specializes in gynecology. I'm shocked she isn't using more explicit words.
"Yes, we are," I say.
Miles chuckles.
I put my hand over the phone's mic. "This is not funny."
"You're smiling," he says.
Damn, I am smiling. Okay, it's a little funny.
He motions for the phone.
It's not a bad idea, him talking to her. "Mom, Miles wants to talk to you. To say hi. He's really excited to meet you. Is that okay?"
"He sounds like a polite young man."
Nowthatis funny. I laugh. It's a belly laugh, one of the best laughs I've had in a while. My mom thinks my rock star fuck buddy is a polite young man.
It's absurd.
I hand the phone to Miles.
Miles laughs. He covers the receiver with his hands. "You are so fucking bad at this."
