Page 69 of Fight For Her
After my amazing weekend with Coby, reality set in. This was my last week living in Palm Cove, and I had so much to do. I’d already done the hardest parts like breaking the news to almost everyone close to me. Mia was prepped, so when I called her and told her I’d gotten the job, she screeched at a pitch so high that Remy howled.
Breaking the news to Claudia was tough. I’d looked up to her as a boss and a friend for so long that my nerves ate away at me the entire time I was in LA. I hadn’t lied to her about my reason for needing more time off, but I wasn’t up front with where I was in the interview process either. I had figured why rock the boat when it wasn’t a done deal.
When I sat across from her in her office on my first day back to work, she took one look at me and said, “You got the job,” as a statement. She always read me like a book. Maybe it was the fact that I’d chewed what little fingernails I had down to the skin, or that I was biting the crap out of my lip that gave me away. Either way, she came across her desk, crouched down, looked me in the eyes, and she said, “You show them what you’re made of,” then she kissed my cheek, gave my shoulders a squeeze, and went back to work like nothing had changed.
I was a mess for the rest of the day.
I spent the rest of the week saying my goodbyes to everyone at the gym. I promised Dina and Mark that I’d find a Krav gym in LA so I could continue bettering my skills. Before I’d gotten home that evening, Mark had texted me a list of five different gyms he’d found online. He had added that none would be nearly as awesome as their gym, and he was probably right.
The hardest part of the entire week was going to be breaking the news to my mom. I decided to take her out to dinner to buffer what I knew would be a difficult conversation. I’d wanted it to be just me and her, but she insisted that her “new man,“ her words not mine, join us.Since Richard was coming, I invited Coby too. I’d wanted him to meet my mom anyway. That felt like a true test of our relationship. Could he deal with her crazy? Or would he escape out the men’s room window?
Coby and I arrived fifteen minutes early at Enzo’s, a quaint family-owned Italian restaurant in the heart of town.
“We need to get a table in the back, far away from the other diners. That way when she starts to freak out, it won’t cause a scene.” He held the door open for me, which let the scent of herbs and garlic waft through the door.
“How bad of a scene are you anticipating? I thought you prepped her?” Coby followed behind me as I made my way to the hostess stand.
I bit my lip. “I told her I had news.”
“News? So she has no idea you’re moving across the country in a few days?”
My mouth went as dry as sand, and I nodded. He cursed under his breath, then laughed low. “Well, from what you’ve told me about your mother, this should be interesting.”
A family of four was ahead of us at the hostess stand, so I took a moment to breathe.This is fine, I told myself. Sconces with warm light emanated a calming glow and that mixed with the divine smells coming from the kitchen, I calmed slightly.
“Good evening. Do you have a reservation?” The young hostess greeted us, smiling broadly.
“Yes, it’s under Edwards.” Her eyes shifted to the iPad screen in front of her before she glanced back up at me.
“Edwards party. Your guests have already arrived. You’ll find them in the dining area. Would you like me to lead you there?”
I needed wine, but I couldn’t drink in front of my mother. Maybe I could make a mad dash for the bar area and down a quick glass. We’re early, so no one would know. I made eyes at Coby, but he was already scanning the crowded dining area.
I saw the exact moment he found my mother because his eyes widened, then he glanced back at me for confirmation. I was hoping she’d have at least dressed appropriately, but I knew from Coby’s face that that wasn’t the case.
Pink. So much pink. And those were sequins. Where did she even get a dress in a shade so offensive? My mother dressed for attention. It was one of the things I’d hated my entire childhood. But I couldn’t recall a time where she went this hardcore on one color.
But then there was her hair. It had always been light like mine though she’d been bleaching it platinum since I was in college, so between the hot pink outfit and the platinum hair, she was like a beacon in the dimly lit room.
“Yup, that’s my mother.” I said in a hush. “We will be having words about that dress.”
Coby chuckled and followed me to the table.
Chapter 36
Kendahl
“Mydaughterdidn’ttellme she was dating a male model.” My mother blurted as she gaped at Coby.
“Mom, keep it together,” I groaned as Coby laughed and then being the charmer that he was, he took her hand and kissed it before he shook Richard’s hand, formally introducing himself.
“I was starting to think you weren’t coming,” she said. “Right, Richard? Didn’t I say that.” He nodded but kept his eyes glued to the menu.
“Mom, we’re early.” I scanned the menu also even though I already knew I wanted the chicken parm.
“You’re late. You told me six. I know it was six because I was on the phone with Sally. She’s chewed my ear off going on and on about some show she started watching. That’s when I heard the sound you set up on my phone, and you told me in the message six o’clock.”
Absolutely no part of that story was necessary. I definitely said six thirty, but there was no use in arguing. I looked at my fork and contemplated staging some sort of fork accident that would get me out of this dinner.
