Chapter Fifteen
Thursday, November 17
Dallas, TX
Kami
Burgers and fries for lunch?
I an’s text comes on my screen just as I’m leaving my desk at KH Industries. A smile creeps onto my face.
Since last Friday, we’ve been “going out together” on a regular basis. Each time I learn something new, I grow more comfortable around him. Though our outings have mostly to do with taking pictures of each other and making it look like we’re a couple, I secretly enjoy the time I have with him. Ranging from movies to funny stories about customers that walk into his bar, our conversations are lively, fun, and there’s never a dull moment.
Until that night at the Italian restaurant, I couldn’t let myself believe his feelings were genuine. That he wanted me for me. For all I know, he could be saying what he thinks I want to hear. Even though I’ve reminded him we hardly know each other, that doesn’t stop him from saying he wants me to be his. I don’t know whether to feel excited or absolutely terrified. But the more we spend time together, the more my worries seem to melt away.
Don’t let him go.
But I have to. Why should I hold on to something that isn’t even mine? He says he wants me to be his, but there’s always the chance he’ll change his mind once the deal between us is no longer hanging over our heads.
I text Ian back as I take the elevator down to the lobby.
Sounds perfect! Where are you thinking?
Just as the elevator dings that I’ve arrived at my floor and the doors open, I’m greeted by Ian at the front desk, smiling at me.
“Hello there,” he says in a sultry tone.
I lightly laugh as I walk up to him. “You sure know how to make an entrance.”
“Says the woman who just came out of the elevator wearing that.” His stare on my body burns, and my heart flutters as he slowly twirls me around. “I mean, damn.”
My face must be a bright pink. I can’t seem to stop blushing when I’m around him. I used to roll my eyes whenever he had something nice to say. They seemed to be just empty words to get him what he wanted. But the more he compliments me, and the longer he’s around, the more I’m starting to believe him.
We walk out of the building together to his car that’s parked in the adjacent parking structure. His hand on the middle of my back sends warmth sizzling through my entire body.
“Which restaurant did you have in mind? I could use a good cheeseburger,” I tell him.
“I was thinking of that place on—”
My phone rings just then, interrupting Ian. I quickly dig into my purse for the device. “Sorry, hold that thought.”
“All good. Who do you think is calling?”
“Probably Kiera. She and I have been going over Friendsgiving stuff for the past couple of days, making sure we don’t forget anything.” I check the caller ID. This is unexpected.
“Who is it?” Ian says.
“My mom.”
Could it be an emergency? Is there more family drama? Is she cancelling Thanksgiving plans? I silently pray to a higher power for the latter option before accepting the call. “Hey, Mom.”
“ Mija , I have great news.” Mom sounds cheerier than usual. Almost giddy.
“What’s the great news?” I ask casually but hold my breath for her answer. My sister eloping was bad enough, so the last thing I need is for my mom to do something even crazier.
“I’m seeing someone. His name is John, and we’ve been together for a month now.”
I’m silent for a moment. Is she for real? “You’re dating again?”
“I know what you’re going to say, but he’s really something, Kami. He’s different from the others.”
Here we go again. That’s what she said about the last guy, and the countless others before him. When will she ever learn?
I do my best to hold in my frustration. “I thought you said you wanted to focus on yourself for a while. You know, like we talked about.”
The last guy she dated, like before, had ended in disaster. Usually when this happens, I give her the “there’s tons of fish in the sea” speech, but this time I told her she should spend some time alone. Focus on and get to know herself. I hoped that with some time off from dating she could understand her pattern and break the cycle. Clearly, I overestimated the odds of her actually sticking to it.
“I was, but then I met John, and we just…clicked.” I hold back a groan as she continues. “I can’t wait for you to meet him at Thanksgiving.”
Hold up. What?
“You invited him to Thanksgiving?” She just met the guy, and already she’s incorporating him into our family? I pause. Wait, why am I surprised after all these years? This isn’t the first guy she’s done this with. She falls for the guy hard and fast and then automatically pushes them into a fantasy husband role thinking that’s what they want, too.
“You’d really like him,” she suggests.
Whether I like him or not is irrelevant. I want to tell her how wrong she is, like countless times before, but I choose instead to bite my tongue. There’s no use in trying to get someone delusional to see reason. I learned that a long time ago.
“I’m sure I will.” I force a somewhat cheerful voice from my body.
Every fiber of my being tells me I need to call her out on her bullshit. I’ve just about had it with her. But I’ll be home sooner rather than later to do that.
Who are you to judge when you’re bringing Ian after knowing him for only a few weeks?
That’s different. Unlike my mother, I have to bring him. I have no choice, while she has every choice.
“Where did you meet? How?”
“I was grocery shopping. We were both in the frozen section when we locked eyes on each other. And like I said, everything clicked.”
She’s seriously going out with this guy simply because it was love at first sight? This has to be a new low.
I’m fuming, but again, I bite my tongue. “Congrats, Mom. I’m so happy for you.” My tone is cheerful, but my expression remains flat with displeasure.
The whole time I’m on the phone, Ian and I continue walking to his car. What must he be thinking? How much is he hearing?
“Thank you, mija . I’m excited for you and Ian to meet John. He’s become very special to me. So…can you go easy on him?”
I’ll go easy on him if he doesn’t do anything stupid to hurt her.
Ian and I climb into the car. I look over at him. He looks back at me, waiting patiently.
“We look forward to meeting John, too.”
“One more week!” my mother says cheerfully. “I’ll let you go and call your sister. Bye.”
“Bye.” The line cuts off, and I lower my phone onto my lap. “I swear, that woman…”
“Everything okay with your mom?”
“She has a brand-new boyfriend of only one month and is bringing him to Thanksgiving.”
“That’s awfully sudden,” he replies.
“Right?”
“Is she happy?”
What does happiness have to do with it? “I give it three weeks.”
He looks surprised by my estimation. “You don’t think it’ll last?”
I scoff. “None of the others have. What makes this one so special?”
“Your mom has dated a lot recently?”
“More like my whole life. That woman wouldn’t know what a serious relationship was if it hit her in the face.”
“That’s a bit mean to say about your mom, don’t you think?”
In truth, what I am saying is harsh. But at the same time, I’m not wrong. She’s always been like this.
“I’m just saying, I know my mother.” If only he knew.