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“I’m not concerned about the movies at the moment. I want to know what’s wrong.”
“I told you. It’s nothing.”
She gave him a look that made it clear she wasn’t buying what he was selling.
He ran his hand through his hair. “Look, can we not talk about this here?”
Beth glanced around. While there weren’t a lot of people in their general vicinity, there were enough within hearing distance.
“Where would you feel comfortable talking?” She tried not to think too much about the leap of faith she was taking. Or what it would mean in regards to their relationship.
“We don’t—”
“Where?”
Drew sighed. “There’s a park a few miles from here. Would you be up for a hike?”
“I’ll follow you there.” Without further comment, she turned back toward her car, and waited until he maneuvered his own vehicle out into traffic.
The drive wasn’t far. As Drew said, the park was only a few miles away. There were three other cars in the small lot, but no sign of people. She guessed they were already on the trails.
Beth turned off the engine, exited her vehicle, and joined him a few feet away. “Lead the way.”
He released another loud sigh, and began walking across the parking area to a marked trail.
They trekked down a small hill and around a bend before Drew started talking. “I want you to know that I’ve been completely honest with you in regards to our friendship. I’m completely okay with us being friends.”
A tinge of unease began creeping up her spine. “Why am I sensing a but?”
“I called my mom before I came, and I sort of let it slip that I was meeting you this afternoon.”
He looked incredibly guilty. While Beth wasn’t sure how she felt about his mom knowing about her, she didn’t understand what was causing him to react the way he was.
“I tried to explain that we’re just friends, but you know how mothers are.” He stopped to meet her gaze. “Anyway, I’m supposed to invite you to my family’s Memorial Day barbecue. It’s a huge affair with all my cousins and many of the surrounding farmers.”
Not what she’d been expecting.
“I don’t expect you to go . . . not that I don’t want you to . . . I do . . . but . . .” He shook his head and began walking again. “Mom will want to know if I asked you the next time I talk to her, and I don’t like lying to my mom.”
“So you knew you needed to ask.”
“Yes.”
They strolled side by side in silence for several minutes. Beth didn’t know what to think of the invitation. Of course, she knew that his mother thought they were an item even if Drew had told her otherwise. And Beth thought it was incredibly sweet that he was nervous about saying something to her, yet he did it anyway because he didn’t want to have to lie to his mother. It said a lot about him.
“I’ll think about it and let you know.”
He stopped again. When he faced her, his eyes were wide with disbelief. “What?”
Beth tried to stifle her laugh. “I said I’d think about it. I’m assuming it’s on Memorial Day, correct?”
“Well, yes. It’s—”
“So I have about three weeks before I have to make a decision.”
When he realized she was really considering going to meet his family, he perked up considerably. “You mean you might actually want to go?”
This time she restarted their forward progress. “This thing between us. I’ve been thinking a lot about it. I’m not sure I’m completely ready yet, but I’ll admit, I’m getting there. At this point, I think we should play it by ear and see what happens.”
