Page 140 of A Little Crush
“What?”
“I told your parents to meet us there.”
“Oh.” The air whooshes from my lungs as I wrap my head around the turn of events.
We’re going to dinner. With my parents. Who, at this point in time, have no idea I’m dating Jaxon Thorne. Perfect. Absolutely perfect.
What could go wrong?
48
JAXON
I’ve never been one to feel nervous. Not really. Even the spiral after the first game of the season wasn’t based on nerves but rather from crumbling under the pressure of holding myself to unrealistic standards. I know this.
And I also know that if Poppy came to me and told me she was dating someone—had been dating someone—who’d already fucked up one relationship and had kept his feelings for my daughter from me instead of coming clean and being open, I’d be… Well, let’s say I’d be less than enthusiastic about the whole thing.
I tug at the collar of my button-up with my free hand, keeping my opposite on Rory’s waist as we approach the hostess table.
“Hello, we have a reservation under Thorne,” I announce.
The hostess smiles. “Yes, of course. The rest of your party is already seated. Follow me.”
When we reach the table, I fight the urge to remove my hand from Rory’s side as Henry stares at the location like it’s Pandora’s box. Maybe it is.
“My baby!” Mia gushes. She pushes to her feet and cutsoff Henry’s pinpoint stare, tugging her daughter into a hug. “I missed you!”
“Missed you, too!” Rory says. “What are you doing here?”
“Your employer requested our presence for the evening.” She gives me a curious look over Rory’s shoulder. It’s even heavier than Henry’s stare from seconds ago. Not angry or judgmental, just…heavy, as if she’s warning me to tread wisely. Then, in an instant, it disappears, and she lets her daughter go, giving Rory a smile. “Take a seat. We ordered a few appetizers to nibble on. Hope that’s okay?”
“Oo, thank you,” Rory returns. “I’m starving.”
I pull out her chair and help her sit down before doing the same to my own. The cheesy scent of artichoke dip turns my stomach as I grab my cloth napkin and place it on my lap. Part of me wants to take control. To announce why we’re here and what Rory means to me. The other part? Call me a fool, but the other part wants to let Henry have a minute to digest what I’m pretty sure he already knows. The question is, for how long?
“So,” Mia starts. “I heard my daughter accepted a full-time position.”
“Mm-hmm,” Rory returns as she scoops a piece of pita bread into the dip. “We figured, why fix what isn’t broken, right?”
“Not broken, huh?” Henry interjects. His expression is locked down, but I know what he’s doing. He’s probing. Baiting us. To catch us in a lie or to come clean.
Why do you think I brought you here, Henry?
So much for giving him a minute to process shit. I guess it’s now or…now.
Clearing my throat, I announce, “Rory and I are dating.”
“Oh?” Mia returns. If she’s surprised, she doesn’t show it. Or maybe she’s finally mastered Henry’s poker face. Sureenough, he’s sporting the same one, refusing to give me the slightest clue as to what he’s thinking.
Reaching beneath the table, I grab Rory’s knee and squeeze, stealing her strength and silent support. “We reconnected at Maverick’s wedding and wanted to see how things played out before announcing it to everyone.”
“At the wedding, huh?” Henry says. “What about Dodge and Crowther?”
Twisting the linen napkin in front of her, Rory peeks at her dad. “I think we all know there’s only ever been one guy for me.”
Damn, if it doesn’t make my chest swell with pride. And guilt. For taking so long to reciprocate, even if it was the right thing to do.
“And you?” Henry challenges, giving me his attention. “Is she the only girl for you?”
