Page 119 of Bewitch

I laugh, not really nervous. Maybe a little surprised, though.

She looks at me over the brim of her coffee mug. “Why don’t you call him and ask him to join us for dessert?”

“Ah…”

“I’ll pay for dessert.”

“Mom…”

“Life is about balance,” she says. “There’s no point in eating healthy and losing weight and never enjoying yourself. If you don’t want dessert, that’s fine, but I really would like to meet him soon.”

I debate and let my mom ask the waiter for the dessert menu as I quick shoot Lucas a text. It’ll be his call. I don’t know if this is too early to meet parents yet, but it’s only one of mine, not both so maybe it won’t be so bad?

Which diner?

Rising Sun.

I can be there in five.

Five?

Yeah. I was going to surprise you at you dorm.

I can feel myself blush. Rising Sun Diner is one of the closest diners to campus.

“He’ll be here in five,” I say.

My mom beams. “Wonderful! Now, I hope this isn’t awkward, but I think it’s absolutely wonderful that he saw you when you were a little heavier. Not that I hope you ever go backward, but he knows where you’ve been—”

“A lot more than that,” I say. “He’s been there himself.”

“Oh, really?’

I nod. “But I get what you’re saying. He’s seen me… not at my worst…”

Actually, he has, with the shit I gave him and all of that, but my mom doesn’t need every single detail.

“But he saw me heavier, and he’s seen me now, and he accepts both sides of me,” I continue. Same with me and him.”

She furrows her brow. “Did he show you pictures of himself when he was heavier?”

I laugh. “Something like that.”

When Lucas arrives and slides into the booth beside me, Mom looks from me to him to me again. Her expression has me burst out laughing because it totally readsYou go, girl!

“Mom, this is Lucas. My boyfriend.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Melton.”

Her smile is even wider now. “It’s lovely to meet you, Lucas…”

“Lucas Thorpe.”

“Lucas Thorpe,” she repeats.

Oh, no. Before I can cut her off, she just has to continue.

“Dawn Thorpe has a nice ring to it,” she says before taking a sip of her coffee.

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