Page 54 of Claiming Her Cougar
I know reading minds isn’t a wolf shifter trait, but I swear Mom has it anyway when she taps on my door.
“Mallory, are you awake?”
I shoot Daphne a quick “brb” so she knows I’m not ignoring her.
“Yeah, Mom, come in.”
My door opens, and Mom enters wearing capri leggings and a T-shirt, her straight brown hair in a ponytail.She looks healthy and cute.Mom rarely dresses this casually.When she works out, she showers immediately and gets dressed in her clothes for the day.She somehow looks formal in jeans and a sweater.I like this look on her.
“Good morning.Did you want waffles for breakfast?”
“Yeah, that would be great!Thanks.I’ll be right down.”
“Okay.Oh, Mike Morris texted your father and invited him over to watch football with him and his family.”Feeling my eyes widen at this information, I nod.
“Your father went to school with Mike and his wife Holly.I guess Holly ran into your Uncle Zack yesterday when she was getting her tree.I didn’t realize you worked with him.”
I want to tell her that’s because she never asked for details about my job.Instead, I keep my mouth shut and nod again.
Mom mirrors my nod.“Holly’s having a ‘crafternoon’ making Christmas ornaments and invited me.And you, of course.We won’t go if it makes you uncomfortable.”She schools her face to appear nonchalant, but her bright eyes betray her desire to go.She was so cute making air quotes aroundcrafternoon.Mom is not an air quote type of woman.
Mom is typically introverted and doesn’t spend a lot of time with women her age, as far as I know.Unless it’s my aunts.Maybe she has friends in Florida.I hope she does, but I think spending time with Holly and Faith would be a treat for her.
“Yeah, that sounds fun.”
“Are you sure?”she asks.“I don’t want to make things awkward for you.”
“It’s fine.I like Holly and Faith, and my friend Daphne will be there too.”
Swinging my legs out of bed, I scoop up my phone and text Daphne back.
Me: Mike & Holly invited my PARENTS over for football and crafting.
Daphne: Your parents are here?Since when?
Me: Since yesterday evening.
Daphne: So…we’re crafting?
Me: I’ll pack my glue gun.:winky face emoji:
Daphne fills me in on the details of when and where everything is happening.I don’t know how this thing with Liam has gone from no-strings-keep-it-to-ourselves to our parents meeting and everyone hanging out.Everything feels out of control, and I don’t like it.
* * *
I take my car because I’m afraid this afternoon isn’t going to go well, and I don’t want to be trapped in a car with my parents or subject to their schedule.I really want to be confident that everything is going to be great and my parents won’t embarrass me, but experience has taught me that their filters don’t always fully engage, especially if I’m the topic of conversation.
When I was younger, I created a bingo card on some random website and would mark off the obnoxious things my parents said or did.Each bingo earned me a little treat, like new nail polish from Target.I had so many nail polishes I could have opened a nail salon.No boring French manicures for this girl.That drove Mom crazy.We’d go for mother/daughter manicures, and she and Valerie would get demure French manicures, and I’d get bright colors and fun nail art.Just another way I’d confuse and disappoint her.
I pull up in front of Mike’s house.It feels weird to be socializing with my boss, but no way am I letting my parents loose unchaperoned.Grabbing the tray of chocolate-covered pretzels I picked up, I survey the cars to figure out who’s there already.I see Logan’s Jeep and Liam’s truck.That’s good.My parents pull up at the curb behind me.We’ll walk in together.Damn.I was hoping to be able to talk to Liam alone before my parents arrived to make sure we have our story straight.I guess we’re going to wing it and hope for the best.Dad’s carrying a bottle of wine—they must’ve stopped at the liquor store on the way.I try to get a glimpse of the label to determine if it’s something I like.Not that it matters.I bet I’m drinking whatever they’re serving.
Mike opens the front door as we approach the porch.The house is a stately brick colonial, with candles in each window and lighted garlands wrapped around the pillars of the front porch.Normally I’m a fan of multicolored Christmas lights, but the white lights they’re using complement the house perfectly.
“Welcome!”Mike says.“Come on in.You lucked out arriving between rain showers.”
He leads us into the kitchen where Holly and Faith greet us.
Holly smiles warmly at Dad.“Robert!Great to see you again!I heard you had moved to Florida.How are you liking it down there?”She hugs Mom as Dad tells her they love living among the theme parks they enjoy so much.
