Page 93 of Puck Me Secretly

I refrained from snorting. “Oka-aay.”

“Rory, you know I’d love to see you with a boyfriend. Don’t you want a boyfriend?”

The chef leaned over the island and offered me a mini-burger.

“Thanks,” I took the plate from him. “Mom. It’s kind of hard to find a boyfriend when I work 12 hour days.”

“But that is my point,” she watched me bite into the burger. “You don’t have time to find a boyfriend, but Calder doesn’t need finding.”

I talked with my mouth full to the chef. “This is delicious.”

He grinned at me.

“Mom, I love you, but you are way off base with Calder.”

She squeezed my arm. “I think you are writing him off with far too much haste.”

I loved Mom for her innocence. I could ruin her image of Calder by telling her he was the king of debauchery with his wild drinking, recreational drugs and salacious appetite for casual sex, but I didn’t want to. I loved that she still saw only the good in people. “I promise to spend time with him.”

Which reminded me. I need to ask Calder what else he knew about Baxter and Katrina.

Two hours later,I stood in the huge family room, surrounded by guests. I had positioned myself to see the front foyer, so I would know if and when Max arrived.

I chewed on my bottom lip. What if he brought Lolita with him? I had already resigned myself to the fact I’d have to pretend to besuper happy for them and make friendly chitchat with her. I imagined Lolita to be tall and blonde with an angelic face and the body of a supermodel. The thought more than depressed me.

“Why so glum, chum?”

I lifted my chin at Calder. Judging from his glassy eyes he was either drunk or stoned.

“Hey, Calder.”

“Waiting for someone?”

“Why do you say that?” My tone was sharper than intended.

“Because,” he took a long sip of his beer. “You’ve been eyeballing the front door like my dad’s basset hound stares at his treat jar. With longing and anticipation.”

“I’m surprised you showed up tonight. This party doesn’t seem like your style.”

“You know that our moms are playing matchmaker. They expect us to procreate because they are both so desperate for that little patter of feet.”

“I think I just threw up in my mouth.”

He laughed. “That’s why we are having Christmas together.”

“No.”

“Yup. The raisins, as I affectionately like to call my parents, have rented a woodsy cabin in Whistler for the Christmas vacation. We get to spend four blissful days together as one big happy family for a big festive vacation.”

“No one mentioned it to me.” The last thing I wanted to do was spend the Christmas vacation with anyone other than my parents. I had been eagerly anticipating my PJs, Netflix and at least six books I had stockpiled.

“Don’t worry, I have an escape plan planned for us.”

He had my full attention. “What does that mean?”

“You’ll see.”

I wasn’t sure I wanted to know. “Seems like you had fun at the gala.”

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