Page 29 of Love Me Like It's Real
“What do you think? What are their names?”
“Elsa and Arya.”
“Oh, the Felix girls! Of course. They’re new in town. In fact…” Mom sets her cup down and hums in concentration. “I told you about the eldest last week. Elsa. She’s a talented kid.”
I chuckle. “She was definitely talented in getting me a date with her dad.”
Mom rolls her eyes. “They’re very sweet girls, so you better not do anything stupid.”
“I know they are. Very smart—” I pause, remembering something Mom said last week too. “Wait a minute. Didn’t you say her family moved in here recently?”
“Yeah, and?” Mom asks.
“You said ‘family.’ Does that mean she has two dads?” Is Felix married or something and I’ve just agreed to go on a date with a taken man?
“Oh, I don’t know. I’ve not met her parents yet.”
“So she does have two!” I sit back.
“Maybe they’ve got an open arrangement, if you know what I mean,” Wells suggests, only to get a glare from Mom.
“Even if they do, I doubt they’d tell their kids. And I doubt their kids would get involved in their love life. I’m sure if the girls were asking you to take their dad out he’s a single parent.”
“Now that you mention it…” Elsa did say if I don’t take Felix out he’d sit at home, alone, crying into a tub of ice cream.
If that’s not a single man then I don’t know what is.
“Yeah. I think you’re right,” I say and try to cast that thought aside. I’m sure I’m right, but I can’t help worrying that I’ve agreed to wine and dine another man’s man and that doesn’t sit right with me.
It’s not like I can message Felix to ask him. Not when there’s a very good possibility Elsa will be the one to read the message. Besides, I’d want him looking me in the eye when I ask him.
“It’s all fine,” I reassure my audience who are both staring at me as if hanging by a thread.
Mom narrows her eyes and lifts her coffee to her lips. “So you’re still going?” she asks.
“Yeah. Uhm…yeah. Why wouldn’t I?” They don’t need to know about the turmoil inside me. That’s mine and mine alone and it won’t die down until I get some answers.
“No. Just saying. You need to be careful.”
I frown. “Be careful? Why? What do you know?”
What a weird thing to say. I’m sure if Mom knew something about Felix she would tell me. Right?
Mom pierces her slice of pie and winces. “What the hell are you talking about? I’m not saying be careful because this guy is dangerous. I’m saying be careful who you hurt with your…shenanigans.”
“Shenanigans?”
“Shenanigans, yes, Hayworth. You’ve denounced love like it’s a plague, you try to make the Season of Love festival a living nightmare?—”
“I don’t?—”
“Do you, or do you not have a schedule of interruptions to the festival planned?”
I look away from her and try to hide my face behind my coffee cup.
“It’s not like you can hide from me. I saw the schedule on your website.”
“My website?” I put the coffee down and turn to her again. “And how would you know how to gain access?”
