"Oh, that's fine. Just let me know when. The library closes at four thirty tomorrow."
"There's a good chance my brother and ex will be there."
"That's fine. Tell me how you want me to handle it." Candy shrugs like it's no big deal.
"What do you mean, how I want you to handle it?"
"I can be the polite girlfriend, or we can completely ignore them. We can be the PDA couple who flirt and hug and kiss, or we can be slightly vindictive, and every time Vikki looks at you, I'll remind her that you’re mine now."
I grin. She may be sweet as candy, but she's got a bit of an evil streak in her, and I fucking love it.
I have every intention of replying that she should be the polite girlfriend and we'll get out of there as quickly as possible, but that's not what comes out of my mouth. "Is there a mix of the PDA couple and a slightly vindictive new girlfriend?"
She smiles. "That can be arranged."
I walk her to the door when we get to her little cabin behind the library. Maybe it's a fake relationship, but I’m still a gentleman. "I'll pick you up tomorrow at five."
Without thinking, I lean in and place a soft kiss on her lips. She melts into me like I was hoping she would. Her soft curves feel amazing against me, and I know we're entering dangerous territory.
Thankfully, Jake and Vikki aren’t at dinner, and Candy visibly relaxes when she realizes. I don't blame her one bit.
She's in the kitchen helping my mom while I sit in the living room with my dad.
"How long have you two been seeing each other?" Dad asks once the women have disappeared into the other room.
"Not very long. I wasn't going to invite her to all the wedding stuff, but when she found out about Jake and Vikki, she said she didn't want me to go through it alone, so here we are.” I shake my head. “Vikki's already made it known that Candy isn’t my type, and her jealous side is coming out, so this wedding will be . . . interesting."
My dad never liked Vikki when I was dating her, and he still doesn't, but he loves my mom and will do anything to keep the peace. My mom seems to think this is the best way to do that. If she only knew how wrong she was.
"Your mom's having a Christmas dinner before your brother and Vikki leave for their honeymoon,” Dad says.
I know what he's getting at. He wants me to come to Christmas dinner even though I've made it clear I won't attend any events if Jake and Vikki are there.
"I won't be there." I hold up a hand as Dad starts to protest. "Candy’s giving up a lot of her time to be with me for this wedding. Her sister’s in town from school, and she won’t get to spend as much time with her, so we’re doing Christmas dinner with her dad and her sister. I owe her that."
My dad pauses for a minute but then nods because he gets it.
I smirk. "I'm sure they'd be happy to set another plate if you need to get away."
He laughs. "Don't tell me."
Over dinner, Mom talks about the Christmas light cruise out on the lake tomorrow. I can't think of anything worse than being trapped on a boat with Jake and Vikki, but it's one of the required events, and my grandmother has been looking forward to it.
"So, the wedding will be at this cabin a bit farther up the lake,” Mom says, pausing to take a sip of her drink. “Since North will be staying the night before the wedding, we'd also like to have you come. I wouldn't normally approve of unmarried couples sharing a room, but I think I could look the other way this time."
Candy's cheeks color the most beautiful shade of pink.
"That's up to Candy. This whole thing is awkward and uncomfortable for everyone, so I'm not going to force her," I tell my mom, also letting Candy know she has an out.
She places her hand on my thigh under the table and smiles. "It's fine. I'll be there, but I'll drive my car just in case."
She gives me a flirty wink that doesn't go unnoticed by my mom.
After dinner, Candy and my mom do the dishes. I love that despite everything, they get along so well. Under different circumstances, it could make me hope for something more. Even if Candy and I were dating for real, there would never be anything more then this with my parents. There are no big family events in my future in fact there's probably more fighting than anything else.
On the way home, all I can think about is sharing a room with Candy, and the thought alone is making me hard as hell.
"You don't have to spend the night at the cabin," I tell her. I'm trying to give her yet another out.