Page 28 of False Start
Weston: Congratulations, superstar. You’re going to nail it.
“Who are you texting?” Mom asked, reading over my shoulder before I could hide the screen.
“Who’s Weston?”
I opened my mouth to tell her it was none of her business, but Mr. helpful PA beat me to it.
“Oh, shit! I thought it was just a rumor. You’re really dating Weston Naylor? That’s awesome. Do you think he’ll come to set? I have the special edition ball Pace released with his signature on it.”
“I take it you’re an Engines fan?” I asked as Mom side-eyed me.
“Huge. Check it.” He hoisted his pant leg high enough to reveal the Chicago Engines steam train mascot.
“Are you harassing our new star with your football obsession, Paulie?” Dressed in neatly pressed slacks and a button down shirt, looking just as good as any of the men he made shine in front of the camera, Marty Wiseman breezed into the room looking like the quintessential silver fox. I didn’t need to look at her to know the moment Mom noticed him. A weird, choked noise that sounded almost like a giggle burst from her as she shouldered past me to shake his hand.
“Angela Kennedy. I’m Gia’s mother. I know, she gets her looks from me. I was always told I should be an actress, but I wanted to do something useful for the world. I would have been bored repeating lines and standing where I was told because, well, it’s not terribly challenging, is it?”
Marty glanced at me, then back at the force of nature that had birthed me, and gave a practiced smile. “Delighted to meet you. It’s always nice to see family supporting cast members with the transition into a new role. Gia.” He squeezed Mom’s hand and moved around her. Cupping my shoulders gently, he looked me over. “You’re more perfect than I could have hoped.”
“Thank you.” I tried not to twitch under the scrutiny.
Paulie the PA put a hand to his earpiece and turned toward Marty “They’re looking for you on sound stage two, sir. And HR is ready for Gia to get contracts signed.”
Marty gave us a friendly goodbye and left without fuss as Paulie led us to a suite of offices near the entrance.
“You’re dating a football player? Since when?” Mom hissed as we waited to be called in.
“It’s new. Can we talk about this later?”
She hummed in disapproval, but let the subject drop until we slid into an Uber to head home.
“I want to meet him,” she announced as I buckled my seat belt.
“Who?”
“Weston football player. Whatever his name was. If you’re dating someone, I should meet them.”
“Why?”
The look she gave me called me an idiot as efficiently as words.
“Because I’m your mother, and I should know the people you’re spending time with.”
I sighed, not bothering to respond as I rubbed at my eyes. It was so tiring dealing with her. She always managed to simultaneously make me feel five years old and like I was the most stupid person on the planet.
“How’s Dad?” I asked instead and settled back in my seat as she listed all his shortcomings and the reasons he was lucky to have her.
It was mid-afternoon by the time we arrived back at my apartment, and I was thoroughly done with the day. Mom had insisted on stopping off in the shopping district for lunch at one of the finer restaurants where she criticized every food choice I made.
“I need to pack my bag. My flight leaves at six PM,” she announced, breezing through my front door and heading toward my bedroom. “I don’t suppose you’ll bother driving me to the airport, so can you order a car for me?”
Gladly.
In a thankfully short amount of time, she was packed up and ready to head out.
“By the way, we’re hosting Thanksgiving this year. Bring your boyfriend so he can meet the family.”
I’d been so close to avoiding the discussion. So close. And then it hit me.
