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The word sends a shiver down my spine and a whole lot of warmth flooding straight through me.
But it’s not real, I tell myself. It’s just pretend. Just a game we’re playing for his parents’ benefit. And ours, I guess, because we’re going to have to play nice with them from now on.
I suck in a deep breath and Chris reaches across the console to take my hand, a move which certainly does nothing to help me feel less anxious. In fact, I’m certain that my heart is pounding even more now. And I can only hope that he doesn’t hear it.
When we actually pull into the driveway he releases my hand long enough to walk around the car and open the door for me (a gentleman, who would have guessed?) and then his arm snakes around my waist.
Now I really feel like I’m going to faint because my heart is pounding and I’m struggling not to feel lightheaded at the amazing feeling of him holding me in such a familiar way. Such a sweet gesture that really seems to sell the fact of my being his girlfriend.
Which is exactly what he’s trying to do, I tell myself. Don’t read too much into it.
“Ah, Chris, you made it. And you brought … you brought a friend.” The woman in front of me is gorgeous. Older, sure, but still stunning for her age and dressed impeccably. I suddenly feel very underdressed, but she doesn’t let on. Instead, she gives me a bright smile and steps forward to take my hand.
“This is Emma. My girlfriend.” He says the words so casually. Like they’re the most natural thing in the world. Like they’re not sending my heart skittering like crazy and making it hard to think of even the basic requirements now. Like offering my hand, smiling politely, and saying ‘nice to meet you.’ “Emma, this is my mother.”
“Martha, Dear. You can call me Martha.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Martha,” I reply, wondering if she can see just how out of place I am here. But the bright smile stays and she quickly leads us both down the hall to the living room where I see an older gentleman, the woman I recognize as Wendy, and two others who can only be her husband and daughter.
“Uncle Chris!” The little girl jumps up and runs over to him as soon as she sees him and before I even know what’s happening he’s being pulled back to the middle of the floor so he can see her new doll and then her loose tooth and the picture she drew last week at kindergarten.
If having him hold my hand and wrap his arm around my waist and introduce me as his girlfriend didn’t melt my heart, watching him with that little girl certainly does. And suddenly I’m thinking very differently about what things are going to be like when the baby comes.
Is Chris actually going to be a present father? Is he going to be around to play with the baby? To be … a real dad? And not just a financial supporter? I don’t know that I ever really thought of it that way. I just thought that I would be there taking care of the baby and he would continue with his life as normal. But now, watching him with a child, I start to wonder again.
“And you are?” Wendy sidles up to me now, looking me over with a critical air and I wonder if she recognizes me from the club. Or if she even cares. The look she’s giving me is suspicious to say the least and Chris looks up sharply from where he’s currently sitting.
“Emma, my sister, Wendy. Wendy, my girlfriend, Emma.”
Wendy’s eyes widen in surprise but his mother is still beaming from where she’s now perched on the couch with their father. “Girlfriend. And when did this happen?” she asks, eyes narrowing as she looks at me.
“It’s been a few months,” he replies, flippantly. He’s doing his best to make everything seem casual. Like none of this is a big deal.
But the reactions of his family are certainly telling a different story. His father looks just as shocked as everyone else. Though he seems pleased, just like their mother.
On the other hand, there’s Wendy, who seems unsure about the whole thing.
“Are you going to be my aunt?” I look down, startled, to see the little girl standing in front of me now. Chris is still sitting on the floor where she left him, though he has a bemused expression on his face.
“Let’s just stick with her being my girlfriend for now, you think?” he replies and I blush, though my heart is skipping beats all over the place at the very thought of those words ‘for now.’
“All right,” she agrees with a shrug and before anyone can say anything else we’re all called in for dinner.
“Don’t mind her. She’s just excitable. And Wendy will warm up to you.”
“You think she will? She didn’t seem to approve.” I frown slightly and he rubs a hand over my arm.
“She’s suspicious of anyone that I spend time with. It’s not a big deal. Don’t let her get to you. Come on. The food is good here. It’s one of the best reasons to come.” He gives me a grin and directs me to a seat next to his own.
“So, Emma, what do you do?”
“Emma’s in the entertainment field. It’s how we met.”
“Oh? So you and Chris are in the same line of work?”
“That’s right,” I agree, trying to cover my nervousness at this line of questioning. He obviously doesn’t want them to know I’m a waitress at his club. So how am I supposed to answer the questions that will inevitably come up about my nonexistent job?
“Do you enjoy that field?”
