country?’
‘ There are plenty of things I don’t tell you, Mom.’ She sighed and zipped up the bag. She was ready to go, and a glance at the clock confirmed she would have to endure her mother’s interrogation for another fifteen minutes because Jake wasn’t coming to pick her up until seven.
‘Does Brad know them , as well?’ her mom probed, her melancholy eyes brushing Elly’s ring finger.
‘I don’t think so, Mom.’ She’d had enough of those awkward attempts to make Brad relevant. ‘It doesn’t matter, though. We’re done, and that’s it.’ She walked over to the window and peeked out at the street. Please, please come early, she prayed silently, before I lose it totally and tell my mom what I think.
As if charmed by her pleas, a silver convertible BMW turned the corner, slowing down and pulling to the curb just in front of her family’s driveway.
‘Okay, Mom, my ride is here.’ Elly turned to her mother and was surprised to see that her father joined her. Both their faces were painfully uncomfortable.
Her dad cleared his throat. ‘You don’t need to run off with some man just to make a point, you know. Rebound things aren’t very safe, to say the least.’
‘For God’s sake, it’s not a rebound, Dad!’ she hissed, on the verge of tears. Do they ever get me at all? ‘Plus, you can tell Brad all about it when he comes over for dinner,’ she couldn’t help but add, enjoying their surprise. She loved her parents just as much as any other daughter did, but they drove her nuts once in a while.
When t he doorbell rang, she practically ran downstairs, leaving them behind. She wished she could just slip out without Jake as much as setting foot inside their house, but that wasn’t really an option. Even though she had been an adult living on her own for the last five years, in her parents’ house, their basic rules of politeness required inviting him in for a proper introduction. She would make it brief, though.
At least that was the plan, she thought as soon as she could breathe again. Because the man who stood at the door made her brain go all fuzzy. Tall and elegant in his blue shirt, dark pants, and grey jacket, Jake was grinning at her with such charm that she was surprised she didn’t melt into a puddle of pure admiration then and there.
‘Hi there .’ Even his voice sounded incredibly sexy. She felt her parents come closer, probably looking anything but inviting. How did I manage to get myself into this scenario? I feel like I’m back in high school, being asked out by a boy.
‘You must be Elly’s parents.’ Jake didn’t seem to have a problem with the frosty reception. Smiling warmly, he chatted with her parents for a few excruciating moments before she realized that they weren’t half as cold and unapproachable as she had expected them to be. Actually, her mom was laughing at something Jake had said, which was a first. As she listened to his explanation about the whirlwind weekend, the reality of what she had just signed on for finally hit home. That night was just a simple barbecue and a cocktail evening for the family and close friends, a warm-up for the next day, really. The real party started around noon. The official part with the charity auction and speeches would be followed by dinner and dancing. Whether or not she was ready for facing a whole bunch of strangers, there was no turning back.
‘ Ready to go?’ She realized he was speaking to her, his blue eyes warm. She nodded, and he picked up her bag and carried it to the car. She could only follow, making her goodbyes with her parents short and easy. They liked Jake, she thought, still puzzled as she slid into the car and let her head rest against the leather headrest. Given their loyalty to Brad, their approval of Jake was huge.
‘ So we survived?’ He laughed softly while buckling up, then started the car. ‘I’m just so glad you changed your mind, Elly.’
‘I am just surprised you didn’t have a
‘ There are plenty of things I don’t tell you, Mom.’ She sighed and zipped up the bag. She was ready to go, and a glance at the clock confirmed she would have to endure her mother’s interrogation for another fifteen minutes because Jake wasn’t coming to pick her up until seven.
‘Does Brad know them , as well?’ her mom probed, her melancholy eyes brushing Elly’s ring finger.
‘I don’t think so, Mom.’ She’d had enough of those awkward attempts to make Brad relevant. ‘It doesn’t matter, though. We’re done, and that’s it.’ She walked over to the window and peeked out at the street. Please, please come early, she prayed silently, before I lose it totally and tell my mom what I think.
As if charmed by her pleas, a silver convertible BMW turned the corner, slowing down and pulling to the curb just in front of her family’s driveway.
‘Okay, Mom, my ride is here.’ Elly turned to her mother and was surprised to see that her father joined her. Both their faces were painfully uncomfortable.
Her dad cleared his throat. ‘You don’t need to run off with some man just to make a point, you know. Rebound things aren’t very safe, to say the least.’
‘For God’s sake, it’s not a rebound, Dad!’ she hissed, on the verge of tears. Do they ever get me at all? ‘Plus, you can tell Brad all about it when he comes over for dinner,’ she couldn’t help but add, enjoying their surprise. She loved her parents just as much as any other daughter did, but they drove her nuts once in a while.
When t he doorbell rang, she practically ran downstairs, leaving them behind. She wished she could just slip out without Jake as much as setting foot inside their house, but that wasn’t really an option. Even though she had been an adult living on her own for the last five years, in her parents’ house, their basic rules of politeness required inviting him in for a proper introduction. She would make it brief, though.
At least that was the plan, she thought as soon as she could breathe again. Because the man who stood at the door made her brain go all fuzzy. Tall and elegant in his blue shirt, dark pants, and grey jacket, Jake was grinning at her with such charm that she was surprised she didn’t melt into a puddle of pure admiration then and there.
‘Hi there .’ Even his voice sounded incredibly sexy. She felt her parents come closer, probably looking anything but inviting. How did I manage to get myself into this scenario? I feel like I’m back in high school, being asked out by a boy.
‘You must be Elly’s parents.’ Jake didn’t seem to have a problem with the frosty reception. Smiling warmly, he chatted with her parents for a few excruciating moments before she realized that they weren’t half as cold and unapproachable as she had expected them to be. Actually, her mom was laughing at something Jake had said, which was a first. As she listened to his explanation about the whirlwind weekend, the reality of what she had just signed on for finally hit home. That night was just a simple barbecue and a cocktail evening for the family and close friends, a warm-up for the next day, really. The real party started around noon. The official part with the charity auction and speeches would be followed by dinner and dancing. Whether or not she was ready for facing a whole bunch of strangers, there was no turning back.
‘ Ready to go?’ She realized he was speaking to her, his blue eyes warm. She nodded, and he picked up her bag and carried it to the car. She could only follow, making her goodbyes with her parents short and easy. They liked Jake, she thought, still puzzled as she slid into the car and let her head rest against the leather headrest. Given their loyalty to Brad, their approval of Jake was huge.
‘ So we survived?’ He laughed softly while buckling up, then started the car. ‘I’m just so glad you changed your mind, Elly.’
‘I am just surprised you didn’t have a
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