Page 139 of Toxic Temptation
I cringe. She says it with a fake brightness, like it’s totally normal to reference Dad, like both of us weren’t ruined by his loss.
“Mom—”
“You should come for lunch next weekend,” she interrupts. “Both of you. I’ll make that chicken salad you used to like.”
“I...” I glance at Waylen, who’s returned to the kitchen and is now listening shamelessly while pretending to read a newspaper. “Sure. Yeah, that sounds good.”
“Wonderful. Saturday at noon?”
“Saturday at noon,” I repeat.
“And Vesper? You should bring your boyfriend.”
My blood turns to ice. “My what?”
“Waylen mentioned you’re seeing someone. I’d like to meet him.”
I’m going to murder my brother. Slowly. With a rusty spoon.
“That’s really not necessary, Mom. We’re still pretty new and?—”
“Nonsense. If he’s important enough for you to spend time with, he’s important enough to meet your mother.”
There’s something in her voice I haven’t heard in years. A spark of interest. Of life.
“I’ll ask him,” I lie. “But he might be busy.”
“Well, ask. I’m sure he can spare an afternoon.”
“Right. Of course.”
We say our goodbyes and I hang up, my hands shaking slightly. Waylen is grinning at me like the smug asshole he is.
“How’d that go?” he asks innocently.
“You told her about Kovan.”
“I mentioned you were dating someone. That’s different.”
“She wants to meet him.”
“And?”
“And I can’t exactly bring my fake boyfriend to family lunch, can I?”
Waylen shrugs. “Why not? You bring him everywhere else.”
I consider it for exactly two seconds. Kovan meeting my mother. My fragile, broken mother who still wears her wedding ring and keeps Dad’s coffee mug in the same spot on the counter.
The woman who might finally have a reason to smile again if she thinks I’m happy.
The woman who will be devastated when this whole thing inevitably falls apart.
“No,” I say firmly. “Absolutely not.”
“Your loss.”
“I’ll tell her he had to work. That he couldn’t make it.”
