Page 65 of Four Weddings to Fall in Love
“You think you have too many brothers?”
“I wouldn’t put it that way, but…” He rubs a hand over his face.“After Jon was born, my mother wasn’t well, and she had a two-year-old, a four-year-old, and a seven-year-old to care for, in addition to a newborn.”
“And your father?”
“He was the only one working, and he wasn’t home enough.When my grandma was visiting, she sat me down and told me to be a good boy, to do my best not to worry my mother.I learned to be very self-sufficient, and I tried to make sure Leo and Evan didn’t get into trouble.”
Oh, Max.It sounds like he had more responsibility than he should have at a young age, and maybe this explains part of who he is.
I slide my hand into his hair.“If I do have kids, I certainly wouldn’t want more than two.I can’t imagine getting pregnant that many times.”
“Very reasonable.I—”
His phone rings, and he looks at the display.He answers the call and says hi before pressing a button on the phone.Then he jumps out of bed and pulls on some clothes.
“Shit,” he says.“Shit, shit, shit.”
I stiffen.I’ve never heard him swear like this.“What’s wrong?”
“My mom’s in the lobby.”
“Are you serious?Your mother’s here?”
“Once a month, she goes grocery shopping at a place near where I live.She always stops by to see me beforehand…I forgot…”
“Youforgot?”I shriek.
Max seems like the sort of guy who lives by his schedule, whether that’s a physical day planner or an app on his phone.
“I know,” he says.“I’m very sorry.She’ll be here in a few minutes.”
Unexpectedly meeting a guy’s mother, the morning after we slept together?This is the stuff of my nightmares.I suppose it’s good that this won’t be my first time meeting her, but…
“Can’t you say you’re busy?”I ask, but I’m already preparing myself for her visit, pulling on my underwear and jeans, plus the extra shirt I brought in my purse.One that, thankfully, shows less cleavage than what I was wearing last night.
“No.She visits every month at this time.I wouldn’t do that to her.”
“What if her visit was a complete surprise?Would you still let her in?”
“My mother doesn’t do surprise visits unless something is terribly wrong, so yes, I would.”He opens his dresser and puts on a pair of socks.
Last night, everything seemed perfect, but now, the reality of a romantic relationship has come crashing down on me.Why couldn’t I have started a relationship with a man whose family lives on the either side of the country.Better yet, the world?
“Do you want me to hide in the closet?”I ask.
“What?No.It’s a bit embarrassing that my mom is coming over when I have a woman in my apartment, yes, but it’s fine.I can handle it.”
“What about when your mother tells Auntie Gladys, who tells my parents, and suddenly everyone at Carl and Yvonne’s wedding is talking about us?”
“That won’t happen.”
He’s often more of a worrier than I am, but right now, he’s the calm one.Though he did swear an uncharacteristic amount, it’s me who’s freaking out.
He puts his hands on my shoulders.“My mom isn’t a gossip.She’ll just tell my dad, they’ll laugh about it together, that’s all.I know it’s not ideal, and I am very sorry—I can’t believe I forgot—but it’ll be okay.No need to hide.I’m not ashamed of you.”
If I’d gotten my act together, I could have hurried out of his apartment and taken the stairs, but I doubt there’s time for that now.
It’s already happening.He’s picking his mother over you.
