Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
AUDREY
Audrey skipped down the stairs to breakfast, grabbing a bowl of cereal. She was still daydreaming about last night when her mother entered the room, cutting off any illicit thoughts.
“Did you have a good night last night? You seemed to be asleep when we got home.”
“Yes, it was very peaceful,” Audrey replied.
Thankfully, her parents were out late because they drove to Toronto for a hockey game, and it was well past midnight when they returned.
She knew the chances of them crossing paths last night was very minimal, and she was happy her foresight had planned this out.
“That’s nice. Did you do anything?” Her father entered the kitchen then, going to the cabinet next to Audrey to grab his morning tea while she grabbed her favourite sugary cereal.
“No…I just talked to Brianna on the phone.” She said it casually, hoping they wouldn’t read too much into it. She had been planting seeds about the fact that they hung out so when (because she was sure it was a when) they were officially more than whatever this was, they wouldn’t be too shocked.
It seemed to have the opposite effect, as her mother practically clapped for joy.
“Oh, Brianna! She’s so lovely. You should invite her over to our next family dinner. I haven’t seen that girl in ages. She was always so bright,” her mother said.
“That’s a lovely idea, Clara,” her father chipped in, now turning on the kettle. “Nathan would love it.”
Right. Because Nathan was the one who was involved there.
Audrey tried to mimic their cheerfulness. “Sure! I will invite her.”
She sat down across from her mother at the breakfast table, pouring the cereal and then milk into her bowl. People who did it in reverse were quite actually monsters, she thought.
“How are the driving lessons going?” her mother asked.
Audrey had nearly forgotten that was the original excuse she had used to reach out to Brianna. Their relationship seemed so far from that moment, the awkward silences and accidental double entendres.
“They were okay. To be honest, we hadn’t really had many lessons.
We've just been hanging out…as friends,” Audrey added the last part belatedly but almost winced at it.
She didn’t want to lie to her parents, but she wasn’t sure whether she could call what they were doing dating.
God, it all sounded so silly in her head.
“Are you sure about that, honey?” her father asked, appraising her from where he waited near the kettle, still standing.
“What do you mean?” She was not one to blush, but being interrogated by her parents brought it out, and she tried to ignore the extra scrutiny.
“That’s not what Nathan told us,” her mother said.
“That little shit,” Audrey blurted out.
“Language!” her parents said at the same time.
Audrey rolled her eyes. “I just can’t believe he told you. It wasn’t really his place.”
“I know, but he did it from a loving place. He wanted to make sure we’d be okay with it. I mean, I don’t know why he’d think we wouldn’t be.” Her father shook his head as he finally joined them at the kitchen table.
In a weird way, it was kind of nice of Nathan. But it really wasn’t his place to share, and Audrey knew she’d be yelling at him later.
“Maybe it’s because of Brianna’s family. I don’t know what the situation there is exactly, but her parents aren’t supportive at all. Her grandfather is, but he seems to be the only one…” Audrey trailed off, unsure of what else to say.
“That makes sense,” her mother said. “We’ll just have to give her the warmest welcome we can.”
Audrey was already dreading whatever that meant. “Just don’t embarrass me, please.”
Her parents looked at each other mischievously.
“No promises,” her father said finally.
Oh God, this was going to be a nightmare.
“Nathan, you really are a piece of shit,” Audrey said to him over the phone when she called him later.
“Woah. Whatever happened to hello, hi, how are you?” Nathan said back to her.
“I can’t believe you told Mom and Dad about me and Brianna.”
“I was just looking out for her! And for you! Do you know how awful it would be if they didn’t support you? I had to make sure my girls were all good.”
“So weird… I see why you did it, but it doesn’t mean I’m happy about it. That’s a conversation I can have with them.”
“Actually, it’s a conversation Brianna should have with them. She should ask for permission to date you. How cute would that be?”
Now that Nathan said it, it did sound very cute, but Audrey knew he was just bullshitting. He knew she was more than capable of picking out her own suitor, no thanks to him.
“Whatever. Just be there for family dinner this Friday. I’m going to invite Brianna and could use the back-up.”
“Aww, that’s so sweet,” Nathan cooed over the phone. “You think I’m going to help you.”
“You’re so lucky this conversation is over the phone so I can’t kick you.”
“I’m joking. Of course I’ll help.” It was a rare show of seriousness the siblings didn’t normally possess, and Audrey wasn’t sure how to respond. Thankfully, he switched back to his usual teasing shortly after.
“By the way, those nicknames you have for each other are so cute. Grace is complaining that she wants one now.”
Audrey rolled her eyes, even though he couldn’t see it. “I mean, you’ll easily be able to find one for her because she’s an easy ten to your two. But the issue is you… I don’t think it’ll be sexy when she calls you a troll…”
“You asshole,” he responded then promptly hung up.
Rolling her eyes, she switched over to her messages app so she could text Brianna. Once she got confirmation the librarian wasn’t busy yet, she made sure to call her.
“Hey, babe,” Brianna said when she picked up, instantly warming Audrey’s body.
God, she should not have such a visceral response to this woman.
As fun as last night was, she was on her lunch break and would have to get back to work soon.
She could not sit here thinking about her, as much as she wanted to.
“Hey, gorgeous. What are you up to?”
“Just reading a bit before I have to get ready for work. I have a later shift again.”
As much as Audrey wanted to chat about whatever book Brianna was reading, she needed to invite Brianna to her family dinner that week. As she spoke about it, Brianna interrupted her.
“Wait, family dinner as in dinner with your family?”
“Yes… What else would family dinner mean?” Audrey couldn’t help but giggle a little at Brianna’s obvious nervousness.
“You have nothing to be nervous about, gorgeous. They’ll love you,” she said, hoping that would help.
“But…it’s your family.”
“Who you know and adore! I mean, Nathan is your best friend. They already like you by association. He is the favourite child.”
“I’m sure that’s not true.”
“It is. I swear, my mother said that to him two years ago.”
“I meant that they like me.”
“Well, I like you, so they have to like you. I’ll give them no choice.”
“Oh, you like me, do you?” Brianna said, an obvious double meaning in her words.
“You think last night would’ve happened if I didn’t like you?”
“Don’t remind me…” Brianna trailed off, and Audrey couldn’t resist teasing her.
“Or what? You’ll want a repeat?”
“Anytime, babe. Just say the word,” Brianna said, all joking gone from her tone.
Audrey groaned in frustration. “Gorgeous, you can’t say that to me right now. I have to get back to work in a few.”
“Okay, then I’ll see you later this week for family dinner. And then you can drive me home…and maybe bring a bag?”
Audrey was now nervous for an entirely different reason. “Absolutely.”
“Good. I’ll text you later then.”
“Have a good day, gorgeous.”
“You too, beautiful.”