Chapter 25
Twenty-Five
Two days later, Kayla and Jack entered Alibi’s, the restaurant where Jack asked her to be his pretend girlfriend. They were holding hands, but there was nothing fake about it. Now she wanted to hold his hand and didn’t want to let go.
“There they are,” Kayla said, motioning to a table at the back of the restaurant. “This is your last chance to back out.”
Jack chuckled. “I’m not backing out. I want to meet your parents.”
“Said no man ever.”
“It’ll be fine,” he assured her.
Kayla clutched his hand even tighter as they approached the table. Sue and Tim stood to greet them, and Kayla reluctantly let go of Jack’s hand.
“Mom and Dad, this is Jack Peterson.”
“Tim. Nice to meet you.” Her dad shook Jack’s hand.
“I’m Sue.” Her mom shook his hand next.
“It’s great to meet you both. Sorry it took so long,” Jack said congenially.
Kayla and Jack slid into the booth across from her parents.
“We took the liberty of ordering some appetizers,” said Tim.
“Sounds good. I’m starved,” Jack said.
Kayla guessed that making love all morning had worked up his appetite, but she didn’t look at him, lest she give their secret away.
A server approached and took their drink orders.
After she left, Sue started in. “So, Jack. Tell us about yourself.”
“You could have waited until he got his drink,” Tim teased.
“It’s fine,” Jack said. “Where should I begin?”
“How about with your family? That is why we’re all here, after all,” Sue said pointedly.
Kayla raised her eyebrows at the not-so-subtle jab. Jack must have caught it too, but to his credit, he ignored it.
“As you know, my parents, Eileen and John, are here for the holidays. They retired to Florida but visit often since they still have friends and family here.”
“Do you have any siblings?” Sue asked.
“No. It’s just me.”
The server arrived with their appetizers and drinks. The foursome was quiet as she set everything down. “Would you like to place your lunch orders now, or wait?”
Tim spoke for the group. “Give us a few minutes, please.”
“Certainly,” the server said and walked off.
As they filled their plates with appetizers, Kayla could almost believe this was a normal lunch date, but she knew better. They’d only taken a few bites before Sue started in again.
“You and Kayla have worked together for quite some time,” Sue commented.
Jack nodded while Kayla sipped her soda. She and Jack had agreed they wouldn’t order alcoholic beverages today. It was Kayla’s suggestion, since she wanted to stay sharp during her mom’s interrogation.
“We became good friends right away,” Jack announced. Then he swung his arm around her shoulders and gave her a tight squeeze.
Kayla was torn between wanting to lean into him and push him away. She’d asked him to hold off on the affection until she’d talked to her parents alone. Jack was going off script.
Sue eyed them curiously.
“More bread?” Tim asked, holding up a basket of breadsticks.
Kayla shook her head, though usually she was a huge fan of the breadbasket. Even though she was hungry, she had a tough time eating. Jack eyed her with concern, and then he shifted his gaze to her parents.
“Mr. and Mrs. Green, there’s something I have to say.”
Kayla twisted her head toward him so fast she might have gotten whiplash.
“It’s okay,” Jack assured her.
“What is it?” Sue prompted him.
“Originally, I asked Kayla to move in with me to make my parents believe we were a couple. I know it was wrong, and I understand why you would question my motives. However, a lot has changed since then, and now—”
“Maybe I will have a breadstick after all,” Kayla said, frantically interrupting him.
Tim offered her the breadbasket, but kept his gaze pinned on Jack.
“Go on,” Sue said.
Is this what a panic attack feels like? Kayla’s heart raced, and her palms were sweaty. Her sweater stuck to her back and made her skin itchy. She shoved a breadstick into her mouth, mostly as a distraction.
“Kayla asked me not to say anything, but I’m tired of lying, and you deserve to know the truth,” Jack continued.
The server had impeccable timing. “Are you ready to order now?”
“Yes!” Kayla shouted.
“No,” her parents said in unison.
“I’ll come back in a few more minutes.” The server hurried off.
Jack didn’t miss a beat. “The truth is, I’m in love with your daughter.”
Sue and Tim exchanged a look of surprise and confusion. Kayla felt lightheaded and gripped the edge of the table to steady herself.
“Is this true?” Sue implored Kayla.
Kayla slowly nodded.
“Do you feel the same way?” Tim asked her.
Kayla swallowed hard. Jack had thrown her into the deep end, and she had no choice but to swim out of it. “Yes, it’s true.”
Jack let out a big breath and gave her another side hug. This time, Kayla leaned into him, needing the support of his warm, strong body.
“Do your parents know about this?” Sue asked.
“Not yet, but I plan on telling them this weekend,” Jack stated.
This, Kayla knew. It was him telling her parents that was a surprise. Sue and Tim eased back in their seats, appearing more relaxed than before.
“I thought something like this might happen,” Sue said with a smile.
The server approached their table with trepidation. “Is now a good time to take your orders?”
Jack, Sue, and Tim chuckled, and Kayla gave the server a wobbly smile.
After they ordered, Sue eyed her daughter closely. “Kayla, are you okay?”
Her palms had stopped sweating, but she was still shaken by Jack’s unexpected announcement. “I’m fine, Mom. It’s just that I was planning on telling you and Dad alone first.” She turned and pinned her gaze on Jack.
“Uh-oh. I’m in trouble!” Jack joked.
Tim and Sue laughed. “She’s a spitfire, always has been,” Tim stated.
“Dad!”
“It’s true,” Sue added. “She’ll keep you on your toes.”
“I think I can handle it,” Jack said. Then he dropped a kiss on the top of Kayla’s head.
Before, she would have thought it was part of the ruse to make people believe they were a couple.
Now, she knew it was a true sign of affection, and she reveled in it.
The rest of their lunch date went smoothly, and Jack was his usual charming self.
However, if he thought all was forgiven, he was sorely mistaken.
After lunch, the four of them walked out of the restaurant together and paused in the parking lot.
“It was nice meeting you, Jack. I hope we’ll see you again soon,” Sue said.
“You’re welcome to join us on Christmas Eve,” Tim added.
“That’s the day our family gets together,” Sue explained.
“I’ll let you know,” Kayla answered for Jack.
A few minutes later, they climbed into Jack’s car and drove away.
“That went well!” Jack proclaimed.
“Mmm-hmm,” Kayla said.
“I think they really like me.”
“Mmm-hmm,” she repeated.
At a stoplight, Jack cast her a confused glance. “Is something wrong?”
“Well, let’s see. I specifically asked you not to tell my parents about our new relationship status, but you proceeded to tell them everything.”
“Not everything. I left out the passionate details.”
“Thank you for that,” she said sarcastically.
“I’m sorry, but you have to admit, things went a lot smoother after I told them.”
Kayla sighed, knowing she couldn’t argue with that.
“I didn’t want to leave your parents with a bad impression of me,” Jack continued.
“The fact that they invited you to Christmas Eve dinner says a lot,” Kayla remarked.
“Then why aren’t you happy?” Jack asked.
It was almost impossible to stay mad at him. “I am happy. I just wasn’t prepared to share everything all at once,” Kayla said.
He reached across the console and grabbed her hand. “You know when you get really good news, and you’re dying to share it? That’s how I feel about this. Like I want to shout it to the world that Kayla Green is in love with me.”
Kayla smiled at his exuberance. “You might want to tell your parents first.”
Jack’s face fell. “Right.”
She squeezed his hand. “I’ll go with you, if you want me to.”
He shook his head. “This was my doing, and I need to fix it.”
“I didn’t have to agree to move in with you,” she pointed out.
“Why did you?” He eyed her curiously.
This was a day for confessions, so … “Secretly, I hoped this would happen.”
“That we would have an awkward meal with your parents?” Jack teased.
Kayla scowled at him.
“Sorry. I know what you meant because I was hoping for the same thing, too.”
Honesty had never felt so good. Kayla didn’t expect everything to be perfect, but with friendship as their foundation, she felt confident that things would only get better from here.