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“You were a couple of years under me in school, right? So you’re what? Twenty-two? Far from an old maid.”
“Tell my mother that,” she scoffs.
“Nah. I’m the doting boyfriend, remember?” I wink and her face flushes this adorable light shade of pink. The next three months are going to be a blast because I already want to see what else I can do or say to get that blush to appear on her cheeks.
“We’ve got this.”
She nods. “We’ve got this.”
CHAPTER
THREE
Courtney
It’s been three days since Merrick Kincaid bailed me out of the most embarrassing moment of my life. Three days of avoiding my mother’s call. She wants details. Details I don’t have. It’s Friday night, and I know my time is up. I’ve avoided her all week saying work was slammed. She knows I’m off this weekend, which is why when I see her name pop up on my screen, I let out a deep sigh and hit Accept on the call. It’s time to face the music or she’ll show up at my door.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Courtney, I’ve been calling you all week.” Her tone is accusing, as it should be. We both know I’ve been avoiding her.
“I know. It’s been crazy at work.” It’s a lie, but she will believe it. Besides, work has been steady. Jordyn has taken her boutique and made it a staple here in Willow River in such a short amount of time.
“Too crazy to call your mother?” My mom is the master of guilt trips.
Yes. “Yeah,” I say, feeling the remorse weigh heavily on my shoulders, especially at the lies I keep telling. The last three days have been hell for me. All I can think about is telling her the truth. I hate that I lied. I hate even more that she made me feel so pressured I felt like I needed to lie to her. I know she means well. She loves me. My mom is wonderful, but she can be a bit much when she fixates on something.
“Why don’t you bring your boyfriend over for dinner tonight?” she suggests.
I sigh inwardly. I knew this was coming. Hence the reason I’ve avoided her calls this week. “He’s got plans with his brothers.” The excuse rolls freely from my tongue. I have no idea what Merrick is doing tonight. However, I do know I won’t be calling him to have dinner with my mother this evening.
“And he didn’t invite you?” she inquires.
“We don’t spend every waking moment together, Mom.”
“Well, I’ve yet to see the two of you together at all.” There is accusation in her tone, and I know she’s right. No one has seen us together. She’s curious and I suspect suspicious of my sudden relationship.
I need to give Merrick the opportunity to change his mind, and if he doesn’t, we need to set this little ruse in motion, or she’s going to become even more skeptical.
I’m not going to be able to get out of this. “I’ll talk to him, and we can set something up.” I plan to give him one more chance to back out of this mess before I ask him to have dinner with my family. “Maybe we can meet at a restaurant or something?” I suggest. That seems less intimate than taking him home to meet my family. Not that he’s not going to be meeting them, but damn, I’ve gotten myself into a mess.
“This weekend?” she asks hopefully.
“Not this weekend. I’ll talk to Merrick, and we’ll plan something.” Possibly. Maybe. If he doesn’t take the out I offer him and bail on this fiasco. Not that I would blame him if he did.
“Fine.” She sighs. “Then how about you and I have dinner? Your father is golfing, and I’m home alone.”
I smile. “Sure, Mom. That sounds nice. Where do you want to go?” It’s not lost on me that she inquired about dinner with Merrick tonight. I have no doubt she’d call my father and tell him he needed to cut his night of golfing short had I agreed. I make a mental note to remind myself that Dad owes me one.
“Oh, let’s just go to Pizza Town. I’ve been craving their cheesy breadsticks all week.” She laughs, and it’s a carefree sound. Her disappointment in me has already passed for the night.
“Sure. I’ll just meet you there if that works. Around six?” I glance at the clock. It’s just after five, so I have time to change and mentally prepare myself for the abundance of questions I’m sure I’ll have to answer about my nonexistent relationship with Merrick Kincaid.
“Six is perfect. Be safe. Love you.”
“You too. Love you too,” I say, ending the call. Tossing my phone on the couch next to me, I release a heavy sigh. I should tell her the truth, and I will if Merrick backs out. I know I should tell her anyway, but if I’m being honest, three months of not being nagged to find a date, or just a nice guy friend to spend my time with, sounds like absolute heaven.
Standing from the couch, I head to my room to quickly change clothes before heading out to meet my mom at Pizza Town.
