Page 69 of Barefoot Dreams
Fanny leans in as if sharing a secret with me. “Between you and I, I think it’s a load of crap. But if you don’t show up tonight, it will hurt her feelings and we wouldn’t want that, right? So you’ll come.” That sounded like a statement with a heavy dose of coercion.
“Fanny, I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Nonsense, it’s a great idea.”
Not at all, I want to say but I also know enough to know she won’t drop it. And if I refuse, she’ll most likely hog tie me and bring me to this date no matter what.
“Oh, Julie, are you going to do the blind date?” My mom shows up seemingly out of nowhere, looking a little green.
“I’m not sure, Mom, but I think you should go lie down.” I wince looking at her pained expression. “You don’t look so good.”
“I’ll be fine,” she whispers with a brush off and sucks in a sharp breath.
“Oh boy,” Fanny says, wrapping a hand around Mom’s waist. “Let’s go to Willa’s, kitty, you need another mix.”
“Another one?” Mom shrieks in horror. “I don’t think I can handle another one.”
“You’ll be fine, kitty. We’ll build up your tolerance slowly. After all, you still have another single child.”
That catches my attention. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Lily here is not getting any younger while you and that brother of yours refuse to settle down. It’s putting a physicalstrain on her body, see?” Fanny gestures to my mom who suddenly looks panicked.
“I’m not—”
“Hush, Kitkat. I always know better.” She hushes my mom. “So, you’re going to the blind date, right?”
I do not see how all of these things are connected apart from being sure I’m now a subject of Love Hive schemes, but one look at my mom’s pleading eyes and I find myself nodding.
“Fine. I’ll be there,” I tell them with a strained smile and run away before they have a chance to rope me into any more schemes. At least I'm certain it won't be with Griffin. He'd never agreed to this.
It’s not until I close Sip of Love for the day and clean up that I think about this whole blind date set up.
I agreed because…well, there wasn’t another option. Fanny can get the dead to do her biding, but it’s also my mom.
She’s never pushed me to date or settle down because she knows my heart is taken. But maybe she’s been secretly hoping I’d move on? There’s no harm in going to dinner with someone.
It’s not like I’ll have to get serious or marry them. It’s just a date. Not to mention I don’t know how to say no.
18
Griffin
“If you can’t be kind, at least be vague.” – Judith Martin
Today is a slow day but I’m not dumb enough to say it out loud. There’s no need to tempt the universe any more when she’s already been testing me. We went to the town workout this morning like we do every time. Luke decided it was adequate enough to serve as our daily light training, and unlike others I didn’t put up much fight about it.
Julie was there, so I didn’t care if I had to shovel shit the whole morning just for a glimpse of her. It’s my morning ritual these days and today she looked just as gorgeous as ever with her hair piled on top, exposing the slender column of her throat. It looked like the perfect place to sink my teeth in while I was…fuck…
And speaking offuck…those red leggings were molding her peach ass like they were painted on, not worn. My eyes were glued on them as if it was my job, I swear, and I didn’t even need any sick days.
And don’t get me started on the tiny top she wore. Does she have any idea how mouthwatering her tits looked in it? The shirt strangling them close together, it would be almost painful to thrust my cock in between—
Yes, I’m still pathetic, I’m well aware.
It’s not that easy to change your whole DNA overnight, sleeping on the uncomfortable cot in the break room, okay?
But that’s the highlight of my shift.
