Page 6 of The Love Playbook

I reach out and give my mom’s hand a squeeze, nervous on her behalf, as I train my gaze toward the sound of footsteps.

Garry fills my line of vision first, blocking the view of his daughter who’s following directly behind him. I can barely make out the top of her head, she’s so short, so when he reaches us and steps aside, I freeze.

My eyes widen in shock as I take her in. The chocolate chin-length bob and the bangs framing her face. Dark eyes. Pert little nose. Full lips I know firsthand are almost always pursed in a perpetual pout.

Her espresso eyes home in on my mother first before flickering to me, and she stiffens. All the blood drains from herface, leaving her already fair complexion pastier than the tub of glue I used to eat in preschool.

“Barb, Chris”?Garry spins around, beaming at her as he waves an arm in her direction?“I’d like you to meet my daughter, Charlotte.”

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The corners of my lips tip into a smile at the sight of Charlotte’s shell-shocked expression. Though I’m every bit as surprised as she is standing face-to-face with me, I’m a little better at hiding my shock.

“Chris?” She blinks three times before shaking her head. “No. Just no.” She glances up at her father, then back to me again. “Is this some kind of joke?”

Garry’s forehead wrinkles, clearly confused as he glances between us, but he doesn’t have time to answer before her gaze whips back to me again. “Did you follow me here or something?”

I snort and roll my eyes. “Yeah, because that makes sense, considering I’ve already been here for thirty minutes.”

And she thinks I’m the dummy.

She brings her fingers to her temples, a pained expression taking over the shock etched in her delicate features. “Oh my god, thiscannotbe happening. Please tell me this is a dream, a very, verybaddream.”

Beside me, my mom shifts, exchanging a panicked look with Garry that I can’t ignore.

“It’s cool, right?” I ask, forcing a smile and hoping Charlotte plays along. I mean, she can’t be completely oblivious at how her less-than-enthused reaction might upset our folks.

“Cool?” Charlotte scoffs, blinking at me like I’m crazy, and even though I’m kind of used to her looking at me like that?with a mixture of disdain and disgust?right now is not the time.

“Does somebody want to tell us what’s going on here?” Garry asks at the same time I step forward and grip Charlotte’s arm in my hand.

“A word, please?” I ask, ignoring him and dragging her from the room and down the hall.

“Hey!” she protests.

With a growl, she yanks her arm back, but she’s no match for my iron grip.

Once we’re out of earshot, I spin around to face her and hiss, “What the hell, Lettie?”

She reels back like she’s been slapped. “First of all, don’t call me that. Second, right back at you, buddy!” She pokes finger in my chest.

“My mom was so stoked to meet you. She’s been nervous for days, ever since she called me with the invite because she’s scared to death you won’t like her, andthat’syour reaction as soon as you walk in?” I say, waving a hand toward the hallway.

Charlotte crosses her arms over her chest, those cocoa eyes flashing like bombs. “Oh, I’m sorry, but when I walk into my father’s house and findyoustanding there, what the hell do you expect?” She huffs and blows her bangs out her face while I stare down at her with a frown.

She swallows, then glances in the direction of the kitchen as she chokes out, “So, is this for real?Ourparents?”

“You still think it’s a joke?”

“I mean, it kinda feels like one.”

“Well, it’s not,” I bark out. “And right now, they’re out there wondering what the hell is going on?”

“Then why’d you pull me out here?” she snaps back.

“Because I was trying to stop you from acting like a jackass.”

Her jaw drops. “You’re callingmethe jackass?” She points to her chest.

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