Page 71 of RomeAntically Challenged
Incredibly stupid move, she thought. Because one simple touch and her entire body registered just how amazing it felt to be in the safety of his arms. Tender and warm, he was holding her like he was a ninja master of hugs. Holding her as though he alone could make everything better.
A dangerous position for a woman who’d spent her entire life looking to belong, only to be replaced, time and again, by the people she loved.
“If you want, I can tell your mom Clark is an ass and nobody wants an ass for a son-in-law.”
“No.” She backed up and wiped her nose.
“Moms love me.”
“That’s the problem. She’d take one look at you, with the sleepy eyes and bed-tousled hair, and consider it as good as you asking for my hand. The wedding invites would be in the mail before you hung up.”
“Hey, if we plan it on the same day as Clark’s so it’s impossible for you to go, I’m in.”
He was joking, she knew he was joking. But her heart rolled over at his offer. It had been a while since someone had her back.
“That’s okay. If I’m willing to dole out advice, I’d be a hypocrite not to take it in return. Especially when it’s wise advice.”
He grinned. “It’s your wisdom.”
She smiled. “I know.” She blinked a few times. “Does it look like I’ve been crying?”
He wiped her face with the soft cotton hem of his shirt, which smelled like sexy, sleepy man. He studied her, and the grin turned almost gentle. “You look beautiful.”
She didn’t know about beautiful. She was in cut-off jean shorts and an old college T-shirt bedazzled with wet matzo, and her hair was a mess. But when he looked at her like that, she felt beautiful.
“Thanks,” she whispered. Her tablet started ringing and again and she released a huge sigh. “It’s my mom.”
“Who loves you no matter what,” he reminded her softly.
After soaking in one last second of their closeness—okay, a few seconds—she walked around the counter and answered. “Sorry, Mom, I was, uh, thing is...” She looked at Emmitt, who gave her an encouraging thumbs-up. “I’m not going to the wedding. Not because I’m working or have other plans or can’t find a date—”
“I’d date you,” Emmitt whispered.
She shushed him with her eyes.
“I’m not going because Clark and I aren’t together anymore, and it wouldn’t bring me closure, it would bring me back to an unhappy time.”
Her mom looked completely befuddled. “You two were incredibly happy. Everyone said so. Didn’t they, Marty?” Then back to Annie. “Everyone said so.”
“Everyone wasn’t us, Mom. And we weren’t happy together. But he’s happy now and so I am,” Annie said, feeling pretty darn proud that she got through that without a fresh stream of tears.
“Well, I...” Maura took a shaky breath. “I never meant to stick my nose where it didn’t belong. I just thought... Apparently I thought wrong.”
“We love you, Flapjack,” Marty said, and his face appeared on half the screen. All puckered forehead and brows, just like her mom.
“I love you, too, Daddy,” she said. “But why do you want to go to the wedding?”
“When he asked us for our permission, he became my son,” Maura said. “Just because you broke up, that doesn’t mean I can just walk away. He’s family to me. But if it really makes you upset, I’ll tell him I can’t go.”
Annie was floored. She’d never once considered what it was like for her parents when Annie’s relationships didn’t work out. It was the same fierce love that allowed Maura to love Annie as if she’d carried her nine months that kept her from missing Clark’s big day.
Heart in her throat, Annie shoved away all the Clark-inspired frustration over the situation. “Go, Mom. It will be a beautiful wedding.”I should know.“You can tell me if the floating peonies look as elegant as we pictured.” Then quickly, “But don’t feel obligated to share that picture.”
“Are you sure?”
“This way you can get the ten grand Clark owes me.”
They went through their five-minute routine of saying goodbye, which included Annie promising to eat three whole meals, Maura reminding her to floss, and blocking out time for the next video call—in pen.
