Thank God I used condoms.
“Yeah, no babies.” My mom frowns.
“Tell me about her.”
I go ahead to tell them all about London and how she’s different from every girl I’ve ever known. She’s beautiful, has integrity, is determined to make her life better. I tell them where she works and what she does and immediately my mom grabs her bag and says she’s going to go introduce herself. It’s a good thing Mark is strong because it took both of us to stop her from leaving. “Later,” I tell her.
“I want to ask her to come to the regatta.”
“Perfect, she can sit with me,” Kitty offers.
I nod. Everything would be perfect except . . . “Dad and Drizella are coming, and you and I both know he won’t approve of London.”
My mom rests her hand on top of mine. “First off, don’t call your stepmother Drizella. I know you don’t like her, but she has a name. Second, if you like this young woman, then follow your heart. You only have to answer to yourself, Maxwell. Not to your father and not to me.”
Mom is right, but it’s easier for her to say that when my dad’s actions don’t affect her anymore. No matter what, I want London to be at the regatta, but I don’t want my dad or stepbeast saying anything bad to her.
“When can I meet this lovely London?”
I glance down at my watch, knowing London should be at work by now. “We can go now, if you—”
Kitty is up, out of her chair and already to the steps before I can finish. Mark and I finish our drinks and then follow my mom toward the restaurant. I’m not nervous, I’m downright petrified of what London is going to think when I tell her who is with me. The last thing London needs is for her boss to find out we’ve been messing around, although if she got fired, I’d ask my mom to make some calls.
The hostess greets me by name and my mom gives me a bit of a side-eye glance. Mark laughs and pats me on the shoulder. I ask to be seated in London’s section, which upon hearing my own request, think I probably shouldn’t have said anything.
We’re seated and within seconds, London is at our table. This time, I don’t let her get away with ignoring me or acting like we’re not. . .well whatever we are.
“London, I’d like for you to meet my mom and stepdad.”
London eyes me wildly, making me want to kiss the look right off her face. Without much thought, I squeeze her hand, hoping to reassure her.
“Kitty and Mark Bradley,” I continue. “Mom, Mark. I’d like for you to meet London Bauer.” I keep my eyes on her the entire time, hoping to convey that I’m not doing this because we’re sitting in her section, but because she means something to me. She pulls her hand away slowly and looks around, checking to see if anyone is watching.
“Oh, don’t worry about Lester. He and I go way back. Come sit.” My mom pats the chair next to her, but London doesn’t budge.
“Mom, she can’t.”
Kitty groans. “Drinks, tonight? What time are you off, sweetie? I want to get to know the woman who my son hasn’t stopped gushing about since I arrived in town today.”
London turns sharply toward me. Her eyes are wild, frantic. I’m not sure if she’s trying to be pissed at me or if she’s freaking the hell out.
For the record, I’m freaking the hell out.
I smile sheepishly and shrug.5LondonI know I look like a fish out of water when I meet Max’s mom and stepdad. His mother is gorgeous with her blonde hair and bright green eyes that are the same color as Max’s. From what I can tell, she seems genuine, very different from the rest of the clientele. It almost feels as if I stepped into an alternate reality. The last thing I ever expected was for Max to tell his mother about me. It changes things. And if I’m being honest with myself, it confuses the hell out of me. I don’t know what it all means.
After all is said and done, I agree to drinks with Kitty and Mark Bradley at their hotel tonight. Once they’re gone, I breathe a sigh of relief. The whole time I waited on their table, I was drenched in sweat. I kept stuttering my words and I know I looked like an idiot. If Max would’ve warned me beforehand, I could’ve prepared myself.
Usually, I want the days to go by quickly, and it never does except for today. The closer it gets to clocking out at five o’clock, the more nervous I get. At seven, I’m supposed to meet Max and his family at The Chandler Hotel, the ritziest place in Rhode Island. What does one even wear to a place like that? My stomach hurts just thinking about it.