Page 98 of The One I Hate
“When can we meet her?”
“Oh, well, I’m not sure about that.”
“And why not?”
“Mom, her restaurant is opening in two days. Things are crazy. Plus, we weren’t ready to tell people yet. Give us until next week when things calm down.”
“How about dinner tonight?”
Did she not listen to a thing I just said? I check out Charlie’s reaction, and judging by the fact that she hasn’t blinked in a few seconds, she doesn’t know what to say either.
“Tonight? Mom, I’m sorry, but it’s too hard. Charlie has a busy day ahead, and I’m here helping her. Can’t this wait? We promise we’ll come over as soon as we can.”
“Are you two planning on eating dinner tonight? You can’t be workingallday.”
I know Demetria Banks doesn’t take no for an answer. I just have never been on the receiving end of it.
“Well, yeah. At some point we’ll probably grab something to eat.”
“Then you can grab it over here. Is there anything that’s making her sick right now?”
Charlie and I share a knowing look, realizing arguing with my mother is a lost cause at this point.
“Fish,” I say confidently. The reassuring smile Charlie sends my way fills me with pride. “And nothing too heavy on dairy.”
“Pork chops it is. See you at seven.”
“Mom. It really would—” I don’t get a chance to finish that sentence. “I guess you’re meeting my parents tonight.”
“Is there any way we can get out of this?”
I shake my head. “Nope. Hurricane Demetria is at a category four. There’s no stopping it at this point.”
Want to know something you never have to do when you only do casual relationships? Bring a woman home to meet your parents. The last girl Mom and Dad met was my senior prom date, and that was only because everyone came to our house for pictures before the dance.
“Are you okay?” Charlie asks as we pull onto the street of my childhood home. “Because you aren’t allowed to be nervous when I’m terrified.”
I look over to Charlie, and yup, nothing but fear in her eyes.
“We can’t both be afraid,” I say.
“Agree. So I win.”
“Wait—how does that work?”
“I’m meeting your family for the first time. I’m the Jezebel that seduced their precious baby boy and wound up pregnant.”
“You’ll see very shortly that they have never called me their precious baby boy.”
“That’s not the point. I’m the outsider. The new person. And I’m meeting them for the first time with heartburn and after puking three times today.”
She’s right. She wins.
“What can I say to ease your mind?”
“Nothing,” she groans. “I just want to make a good first impression. But here I am, a swollen face, my hair a mess because I didn’t have time to do it after we left the restaurant, and, did I put on deodorant today?”
“Yes, you did. And I think you look beautiful.” I reach across the console and rest my hand on her thigh. I have to remember to keep my eyes on the road because all I want to do right now is stare at her. Light makeup. Rosy cheeks. The red lipstick she only wears when it’s a special occasion. And then there’s the dress she’s wearing. It’s modest, but somehow, also fucking sexy. “You’re going to make a great first impression just by being yourself. Charm them the way you charmed me.”
