With that out of the way, Dylan decided to tackle the next subject, them. “You had asked to see me tonight. I assume it had nothing to do with Charlene.”
“No. But I’m not sure you want to hear this. Not while driving.”
He laughed. “You can’t say that and then say nothing. Of course I want to know. How bad can it be?”
“Oh. It’s about my mother. She thinks we’re in love and she’s going to talk to my father, who, in turn, will probably want to sit down and talk to you about your intentions.”
That sure as hell wasn’t anything he expected to hear. Dylan didn’t even know how to respond. “They believe this why?” It had to be something Sofia told them, because he hadn’t done anything to give such an impression.
“A customer said I had the look of someone in love in my eyes. My mother overheard the comment and it all went downhill from there.”
“And you didn’t correct them,” he stated.
“I tried. Mama wasn’t listening. Not that she ever does. That’s why I’m in this predicament already.”
“You, me, we.”
“We?” she asked.
“Since your father wants to talk to me, then yes, it’s we.” It was time to come clean and let them know this was all an act. But if they did, they would never trust Sofia again. It would become a wedge in the family. “When is this talk supposed to take place?”
“I’m not sure. Mama didn’t say. She said she was going to talk to my father. Oh, and my brother too.”
“Have I told you I work best under pressure?” Dylan said. She shook her head. “So they believe we are crazy in love. I say we give them all the reasons why we want to take it slow, then show them how it won’t work between us. If anything, I’m great at making parents not like me.”
Sofia chuckled. “I have a hard time believing that.”
“I wasn’t always this charming, you know,” Dylan joked.
“Really? You’re charming?” Sofia teased right back.
“Exactly. Now what should be my not-so-charming traits that you can’t stand? And remember, they can’t be so bad that my reputation will be ruined publicly, either.”
“So saying I caught you trying on my underwear would be too much?”
Dylan burst out laughing. “Yes. How about you let me think of what it will be? You can just follow my lead.” He shook his head and added, “I can just imagine what my brothers would’ve said once Sal shared that tidbit.”
“Oh yeah, I forgot about that. But you’re asking me to trust you on how to handle my parents. You would think I should be the one telling you.”
“Since you can’t even admit that you’re in a play, I don’t think you’ve got them wrapped around your pinky.”
“And you do?” she asked.
“I don’t know. How happy was your mother again to hear we are in love?” Sofia huffed and he added, “Told you, I’m charming.”
“At least my mother thinks so,” Sofia said.
And you know you do too.“I think we should take the proactive approach and set up the meeting. Why don’t you tell them we’re coming to dinner at the restaurant tomorrow night?”
“You’re crazy, you know? My mother isn’t someone you can mess with. She’s able to see through bullshit like no one I know,” Sofia said.
“Yet she thinks we’re falling in love,” Dylan said.
“Good point. Maybe she’s slipping. Okay, I’ll tell them in the morning when I go into work.”
“I can’t believe you work seven days a week. Why do you do it?” Of course, he was a workaholic himself.
“I guess I just fell into it. You’d never know it, but I have my college degree in business management.”