Chapter 31
THIRTY-ONE
Kady
Hale jumps out of bed, taking half the blankets with him, like he’s taken an adrenaline shot to the butt. I scamper up, desperately looking around for my clothes until I remember they’re in the bathroom across the landing.
“Hale?” Hale’s Mom’s voice floats up the stairs. “Hello?”
“You told me your parents wouldn’t be around,” I whisper-hiss.
“I didn’t think they would be!” His eyes are apologetic as he wraps a sheet around his waist. “Wait here.”
When he dashes out, I press my cheek against the door to listen.
“Pearl said that you were all back for the weekend, and I saw your truck when I drove back from town.” I can hear what sounds like excitement in Hale’s Mom’s voice.
“Is she here?” I wince at her tone, which now sounds more curious.
Before letting him answer, she continues, “I wish I’d known you were coming.
I’ve been meaning to straighten up a few things before the next guest arrives. ”
“Mom, this isn’t a good time.” It sounds like he’s talking through gritted teeth.
“Honey, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I remember what it’s like to be in college.” Now I seriously want to die of shame. “Why don’t you both come up to the house for dinner? I’m sure you’ve both worked up an appetite—”
Kill me now.
“We probably should be getting back to the cabin, Mom,” Hale interrupts her.
“You’re never too busy for your dear old mom.
Come on, I’ll even cook your favorite.” She doesn’t seem willing to let it go.
“And your dad would like to speak to you. Something about work. You know what he’s like.
I’d really like it if you could have a word with him while you’re here too.
He needs to slow down. You don’t have to stay long.
” Her casual, lighthearted tone seems to take on a new heaviness. “I’m worried about him.”
“I’m not promising anything, but I’ll see, okay?” Hale sighs.
“Good!” I hear Hale’s Mom squeal before she raises her voice for my benefit. “I hope to see you both soon!” I cringe, covering my face with my hands. Is it rude not to answer her? I don’t know the proper etiquette for a situation like this. Thankfully, Hale saves me from having to say anything.
“Mom. You’re embarrassing me. You should go. Now.”
“I’m your parent, honey. It’s my job to embarrass you,” After she chuckles, I hear what sounds like a plastic bag rustling. “Oh, and I also brought you some spare clothes. Just in case you needed them. I know it’s extra muddy in the fields today.”
“Thanks.” Hale’s mumbled response merges with more crinkling, presumably him accepting the bag. “But it’s time for you to leave.” The front door hinges creak. “See you later, Mom. Love you.”
“Love you too, sweetheart. See you soon.”
The door clicks closed, and I exhale in relief as Hale’s footsteps pad back upstairs.
“I’m so sorry about that.” He returns, holding the bag of fresh clothes. “I honestly didn’t think she’d come here.”
“It’s okay,” I reply despite wanting the floor to open up and swallow me.
“Would you mind if we stopped by?” He bites his lip. “We don’t have to stay for dinner, if you don’t want to. Things with my Dad are a little complicated. If Mom’s worried about him, I’d like to check in, and she’s a great cook too.”
“Sure.” I feign a smile, resulting in Hale beaming so hard, it almost erases my nerves. “Although I’m not sure what your mom is going to think of me after this.”
“She’ll love you.”
The room seems to shrink. “But I have nothing to wear.”
He peers into the bag his mom brought him then pulls out a blue flannel shirt. “How about this?”
“That?” I blink at it. “You want me to wear that shirt to meet your parents for the first time?”
“So you do care about making a good impression?” He wiggles his eyebrows.
“Well, I don’t want to make an even worse one.” I rub my temples. “We fucked in their guest house without telling them we were coming here, so I’d like it if they didn’t hate me.”
He shakes the shirt. “It matches your eyes.”
I snatch it from him, cursing myself for not bringing anything else. “I guess it’s…” I wrinkle my nose. “Clean.”
From downstairs, his cell phone starts ringing. “That’s probably work. I better get it.”
Nerves bubble in my stomach as I get dressed and re-gather up all my clothes.
With Hale still downstairs, I fish out my cell phone to quickly FaceTime Delilah. She’s my go-to in situations like this.
“Kady?” she answers on the second ring. “Is everything okay?”
She’s busy in the kitchen, the mixer whirring in the background.
“Are you wearing…” She squints at me. “Plaid?”
“It’s a long story.” I push a strand of hair from my face “We’re at Hale’s family’s fruit farm on a date. There was a sheep stuck in the mud, then—”
Her eyebrows shoot up so high that they almost disappear in her curls. “A sheep? Like, a real sheep?”
“The details aren’t important.” I wave my hand while pacing back-and-forth. “I’m going to meet Hale’s parents for dinner.”
“His parents?” She abruptly turns off the mixer. “Wow. That’s a big step.”
“It wasn’t supposed to happen.” Groaning, I grip my forehead. “His mom found us in a compromising state.” Embarrassed, I avert my gaze from her. “After that, it was hard for him to say no, but I’m…” I’m talking quicker than usual. “I’m freaking out!”
“Deep breaths, okay? Try to stay calm.” Delilah uses her most soothing voice. “You have nothing to worry about. You’re amazing. They’ll love you.”
“But this feels serious.” I violently rake my hand through my hair to get out the tangles. I didn’t even use conditioner. “Have you met any guys’ parents before?”
“A few times. My high school boyfriend’s parents for one, but try not to think of it as a big deal. Just think of it as dinner.”
Unease spreads through my limbs. “What if they don’t like me?”
“That’s what you’re worrying about?” She shakes her head. “Kady Sinclair, you’re amazing! You’re pretty, smart, funny, and one of the most loyal people I’ve ever met. They’d be crazy not to like you.”
“But I’m Richard Sinclair’s daughter.” I drop down onto Hale’s bed, briefly considering crawling under the covers and hiding here forever.
“What if they saw me in the papers? The Blandon Pack and I have been plastered everywhere.” I can hear Hale talking on the phone, so I’m pretty sure he can’t hear me, but I lower my voice anyway.
“What if they’re mad at me because I got their son’s whole pack locked up in jail for a night? ”
A million different scenarios of how this could go wrong are racing through my head.
Wouldn’t they prefer Hale to date a Rose Harbor local?
A sweet girl who knows how to shear sheep and make cherry pies?
Not someone with a media mogul monster for a father, who owns a feral cat, and who is so stubbornly independent that she doesn’t even know whether she’s capable of love?
“That was a misunderstanding.” I appreciate Delilah’s reassurance, but I don’t think anything could calm my frazzled nerves right now. “And you’re not your father, Kady. Just be yourself, okay?”
I nod, chewing on the inside of my lip so hard that I make it bleed.
“Aside from dinner, how is everything going?” She smirks. “Your hair looks different.”
“Frizzy is the word you’re looking for.” I finger the mop on my head, but I can’t stop a tiny smile from forming. “I’m having a good time. That’s all.”
“Kady?” I jump when Hale knocks on the door. “Are you ready to go?”
“You better go,” Delilah winks at me. “Have fun.”
“Thanks, Del.” I force a smile. “For everything.”
“I’m your number one hype woman, you know that.” She straightens, heading back to the mixer. “Text me later.”
I wave and hang up, feeling a little better than I did before.
Hale grins as soon as he sees me. “Nice shirt.” His plaid shirt drowns me, sitting around my knees, but it kinda looks okay with the rain boots. I’m sure I’ve seen celebrities in similar outfits at Coachella.
I roll my eyes. “Are we going or not?”
Hale seems really excited as we follow a rocky path up to the main house. He talks during the walk, but I struggle to pay attention to what he’s saying, anxiety gnawing at my insides.
“Wow.” The word unconsciously escapes me when I see the house. Unlike the small vacation cottage, it’s a mansion.
Before Hale can reply, his mom throws open the door and paces to greet us. She’s short, around 5′1′′, and I can instantly tell that she’s an omega. Arms outstretched, she smells like baked bread that’s just come out of the oven.
“You must be Kady!” She pulls me into a mammoth hug that catches me off guard. I’m not used to being hugged by people other than the Stellas.
She doesn’t break away for a while, holding on tightly and stroking my back.
It’s been years since I’ve been hugged like this by an older woman, transporting me back to my mom’s comforting embrace, a place of safety.
Her scent even reminds me of my own mother, who smelled like sugar-dusted cookies.
Being in her arms instantly puts me at ease, my nerves dissipating as she pulls back.
“Pearl didn’t do you enough justice.” Hale’s mom looks me over, smiling warmly. “She said you were pretty, but you’re something else.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Valen.” I hope my face isn’t flaming red.
“Call me Winnie. Come in, come in. Let’s get out of the cold.” She waves her hands to beckon us inside before launching herself at Hale. “Mom’s can never have too many hugs.”
Their house is decorated similarly to the cottage, in hearty autumn colors. There are pictures all over the hallway walls, many of them Hale at different ages—Hale riding a bicycle with chubby knees, Hale wearing braces in a middle school photograph, Hale holding his high school diploma.
Winnie notices me staring at a picture of a baby who looks like a flesh-colored potato with eyes.
“He was a gorgeous baby.” She pinches Hale’s cheek. I contain a laugh at the look on his face. I guess a mother’s love is also blind sometimes. “Always so handsome.”