Page 46 of Hardcore Vanilla
“Yup, that’s her,” Patrick said. “When she needed a date, Jake heroically stepped into the breach and offered his services.”
“Well that’s wonderful,” his mom said, beaming at him. “I liked her a lot. Do you think you might end up making it more than a friend date?”
“You liked her a lot?” Jake repeated, a little surprised. Granted, Sharon had been on her best behavior, but he had heard her curse more than once and make more than one inappropriate joke. And he didn’t even know everything she’d said to his mom.
“Yes, she’s very friendly.” The enthusiastic smile on his mom’s face surprised him even more. “Very funny, too. You should spend more time with her. I think someone like her would be good for you.”
“What do you mean someone like her?” Jake asked. He couldn’t help but feel a little defensive. Exactly how did his mom think Sharon could improve him? “What’s wrong with my usual kind of girlfriend?”
It was obvious his mom saw the difference between Sharon and his usual type as well.
“Nothing’swrongwith them… They just aren’t quite as friendly as her. They tend to be hard to get to know and even quieter than you are. You need someone to help you come out of your shell, the way Patrick does for you. Someone to liven up your life a little bit.”
Jake tried not to feel insulted, but it was a little hard. “My life is perfectly fine.”
“Of course, it is sweetie.” His mom gave him a look. “That doesn’t mean it couldn’t be better. Someone like Sharon would push you. Just think about it, okay? You are taking her to a wedding after all. That can be very romantic.”
“You know she curses a lot, right? And makes inappropriate jokes? And she’s probably the loudest out of our group of friends - which is really saying something. She doesn’t seem like the kind of girlfriend you would approve of me bringing home.” It wasn’t that he wanted to run Sharon down, but now he was feeling pretty defensive from his mom turning his assumptions on their head.
He really hadn’t thought his mom would like Sharon. At the very least, he hadn’t thought his mom would like Sharon forhim. Hearing his mom say she thought someone with all the character traits he’d assumed she would disapprove of would begoodfor him… well it made him question exactly what his mom thought abouthim.
“So?” The expression on his mom’s face made it clear she thought he was talking crazy talk. “Why would any of that mean that I wouldn’t want you to have a girlfriend like her?”
“You disapprove of inappropriate jokes, you aren’t constantly trying to get everyone’s attention, you don’t like it when people are crude, and you don’t curse,” he pointed out, raising his eyebrow at her. To his shock, she burst out laughing. Next to him, Patrick seemed to be totally fascinated by the entire conversation, but they shared a look. Jake pinned his mom with a look as her mirth died down a little. “I haveneverheard you curse.”
“Oh, you have, you just don’t remember,” she said, grinning at him. “I realized I had to stop cursing in front of you when your second word was ‘shit.’”
Jake’s jaw dropped.
Chapter 12
“What’s his name?”
“I just told you, it’s Jake,” Sharon said, tapping her fingers against the counter as she watched her mug cake spinning in the microwave.
“I need his last name, Sharon,” her mother said, sounding exasperated. “For the seating chart.”
Ugh. Fine. But only because otherwise she knew she’d be fielding a call from her aunt as well, because her aunt really would demand that for the seating chart.
“Jake Standish.” She couldn't help the sigh in her voice as she gave up the information, knowing her parents would likely know more about him than she did by the time they arrived for the wedding. That was just how they rolled.
“Thank you." Her mother's voice was prim and dry, with no real gratitude. "We'll see you this weekend."
"Bye mom."
Hanging up the phone, Sharon slumped. Well that had been fun. But now her parents knew she was bringing a date and they'd have a room ready for him. She would have preferred to stay in the hotel for the whole weekend, rather than just the night of the wedding, but her parents would have thrown a fit. At least it was only Friday night with them, then she and Jake would stay at the hotel, and on Sunday they could flee back to DC.
The difference between Jake's family and her family was starker than ever after last night. Watching his family had given her the same feeling she got when she watched Hallmark movies - like she a little kid outside a candy store with her nose pressed against the window.
She was not going to wallow though. Not her style.
Watching terrible shark movies to cheer her up while she binged on cheese and crackers was way more up her alley. She was halfway through Toxic Shark when Jake texted her.
Jake:Hey princess, what are you up to?
Sharon:Lounging in pajamas and watching bad movies. u?
Jake:Sitting at home bored. Want to get together?
