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“She’s tried to call Roberto twenty-six times this afternoon. He hasn’t answered, but it’s got to be bothering him.”
I finished chewing. “Mother, what do you want from me? I brought a guy home. I thought it would make you happy. But all you’ve done is—well, that’s been sort of hard to keep track of. You came on to him. Then you cut him down because he doesn’t make enough money. You didn’t believe that I was really dating him, but once you did, you started spying on him. Am I missing anything?”
Aileen smoothed her dress. “I don’t think so.”
I frowned. “Oh yeah, you also threatened to disinherit me if I don’t get married. But I’m finally dating someone, someone nice, and you’re trying to blow it up. Do I have that right?”
She shrugged. “I’m protecting you. That’s a mother’s job.”
“You are a lot of things, but a good mother has never been one of them.” I stood up, grabbing some more bread and the freshly opened bottle of wine that had been left on the table. “Excuse me. I need to go rescue Bob.”
“You’ll do no such thing.” My mother straightened her shoulders. “Your father is talking to him, man to man. Let him do something for once.” Plastering on a fake smile, she sashayed over to the next guest at our table and started talking about whatever crazy-rich cougars talked about when they wanted to start an innocuous conversation after a difficult one.
I stalked off with the wine. I didn’t care what she had to say.
“Hey.” Josie caught up to me as I made it outside. “What’s the matter?”
“What do you mean?” I took a swig of wine right from the bottle.
“Um.” She took it from me, wiped the edge and took a sip, too. “It’s not because I think you have cooties. My lipstick is paler than yours, is all.”
“Cooties are the least of my worries.”
She pointed at a nearby bench. “Tell me everything.”
I sighed as I sat down. “My mother has been spying on Bob. She tapped his phone.”
Josie’s brow furrowed. “And you’re surprised by this?”
“Not exactly. But she found out that his ex-girlfriend called him today…over twenty times. She was supposed to get married this afternoon.”
“Supposed to?”
I took back the wine. “Apparently, she didn’t go through with it.”
“Oh shit. So your mother thinks, what, that Bob is going to go back to her and break your heart?”
“I don’t know what she thinks.” I looked up at the sky, watching the stars start to come out. “Since when has she ever cared about my feelings?”
Josie frowned. “Since…I don’t remember.”
We blinked at each other. “Wait. Do you think she actually cares about my feelings?”
“I dunno.” Josie looked stymied. “I mean, I hope she does, but…caring isn’t really the word that comes to mind when I think of Aileen. Cougar, yes. Caring, not so much.”
I snorted. “Me too. But she’s really doing her due diligence on Bob, after she got hitting on him out of her system.”
“Well, you know, he is the first guy you’ve brought home since high school. Speaking of, where’s your cousin and Dean Smith?”
“They’re in there somewhere.” I waved toward the tent. I’d glimpsed the happy couple earlier, chatting with my Aunt Evie and Claire. Jennifer looked the same. So did Dean, except his hair line had receded a bit. “I’ll have to go and say hi eventually.”
“Back to your mother. She hasn’t seen you with a man for a long time. Maybe with all the wedding business this weekend, she’s worried that you’re serious about Bob.”
“But why worried? Shouldn’t she be happy?”
“Yes, she should.” She looked around, making sure no one could hear us. “I mean, except for the fact that he’s your pretend date.”
“I know.” I shook my head. “I’ve been getting pretty wrapped up in him, though.”
