Like This And Like That by Nia Stephens

around, still chewing. “Did I tell you that already?”
    Gemma nodded. He’d told her that—or some variation—at least four times in the last hour. She had figured out Drew’s MO. Whenever he got uncomfortable, he would blurt out something totally random, or compliment her, or concentrate on his pizza.
    Before the date Gemma had looked forward to maybe kissing Drew. But staring at him from across the table, seeing his cheeks crammed with pizza crust, she knew a kiss was not happening. She watched his face turn red as he slowly realized that stuffing his face might not have been a good idea. When the waitress came back with the soda, he took a huge gulp and forced the rest of the pizza down.
    â€œDo you want more pizza?” he asked.
    â€œNo thanks. I’m fine,” Gemma said.
    More silence.
    â€œIs there anything you want to talk about?” he finally asked.
    Not a good sign when you have to ask that question , Gemma thought. She shrugged.
    She fiddled with the paper wrapper from the straw and then smoothed it out on the table. How much more tedious was this going to get? Should she suggest they leave? Would it be okay for her to declare this date over?
    After a few more minutes Drew asked, “You ready to go?”
    She could tell he was feeling defeated. “Yes,” she said with relief. She stood up quickly, bumping into the table behind them.
    â€œSorry,” she told the heavyset man glaring up at her from his seat.
    â€œKids,” the man muttered.
    As Drew led her out the door, she thought, How in the world did this date start out on such a high plateau and then drop into a crevasse deeper than the Grand Canyon?
    When they pulled up in front of her driveway, Gemma realized that she had better make a speedy exit before he tried to kiss her. This wasn’t exactly how she had imagined she would feel after today’s date.
    â€œWell, see ya,” she said with one hand on the car door.
    He jumped out of the car and raced around to her side. Mr. Chivalry. “I hope today wasn’t that bad,” he said as he pulled open her door for her.
    Gemma sighed. He wasn’t getting it. Halfway up the driveway, she glanced back. Drew, grinning, sat in the car and waved. She waved back.
    â€œHey, hon,” her mother greeted her, emerging from the house. “I didn’t know you would be home so soon.”
    â€œMe either,” Gemma grumbled.
    Her mother responded by charging past Gemma and down the driveway toward Drew’s car.
    â€œWhat are you doing, Mom?” Gemma called after her. Her mother ignored her. Instead, she leaned into the driver’s side window and said something to Drew. Drew turned off the engine and headed back up the driveway with her mother.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” Gemma asked.
    â€œOh, since we’re cooking outside, I thought it would be nice to invite your friend in for some food,” Dr. Williams explained.
    â€œBut we just had pizza,” Gemma protested, more to Drew than to her mother.
    Drew shrugged. “I told her but she insisted.”
    â€œYou don’t have to eat much. Your father and I just thought it would be nice to finally meet someone you’re dating.”
    Gemma cringed. When Drew glanced at her, she plastered on a smile and decided to do the only thing she could do: suffer through what might just be the insufferable. This definitely wasn’t part of the plan.

Chapter 6
    Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
    â€œY our mother did what?” Maria screeched over the phone. Gemma had immediately made an excuse and ran to her bedroom to call her best friend.
    â€œThat’s why I need you over here now !” Gemma said. “Drew showed up looking like a stand-up guy, my mom is all over him! If she could, she’d have me married off by the end of the night.”
    â€œWhy didn’t you guys just tell her you already ate?”
    â€œWe did! My mom refused to hear