He ends the call and the phone drops into the cup holder between us. Refusing to allow him to see the hurt quickly building inside of me because he’s going to break our lunch date, my eyes fixate out the window. When his hand reaches over and squeezes my thigh, I know for sure, our lunch date is canceled. “It’s okay.” I give him the out. Although I’m disappointed, we’re not even dating. Well, I guess we’re dating, secretly, but I haven’t had the nerve to ask if we’re exclusive yet.
“I’m sorry. It’s my mom. She drove up here for an appointment and wants to have lunch before she goes back home.” My head whips around, unconsciously trying to figure out if he’s lying. If he’s tossing the mom card out, I have to know if it’s the truth or not.
“Your mom?” I clarify and the corner of his right lip curls up.
“Yeah, my mom.” Then the assumption I made must dawn on him. “Oh, you thought?” He points to his phone and a rush of heat spreads up my neck. “I’d ask you to come with us, but you know, awkward with my mom.”
“I’d love to meet her.” Then I roll my eyes at my own blubbering talk. “I mean, someday, obviously, not today. That would be crazy, there’s—” I stop when Rob’s laugh echoes throughout the car.
The Mustang rolls to a stop sign and his hand presses against my cheek urging me to face him. “Come to lunch with us? I’ll introduce you as a friend. That way she won’t interrogate you.”
My stomach twists with the fear of meeting his mom, but as insane as what I’m about to say is, it feels right. “Sure. As long as I’m not intruding.”
“I wouldn’t have asked if you were.” He flips his turn signal on and heads toward the downtown area. “Seriously though, we need to tell her you’re just my roommate or friend. She’ll smell blood regardless and I’m only saving you by lying to her.”
Hmm . . . I wonder how true that is, but I’m not going to fight him. If he came to lunch with one of my parents, I’d tell him the same thing. “Friends,” I agree and he winks over at me.
“Only until I get you to my bedroom.”
I roll my eyes, silently enjoying his promise.
IMAGINE CAFE IS known for their soda fountains, sandwiches and ice cream. When we enter the small whimsical restaurant, I spot his mom immediately. I don’t have to wait for Rob’s arm to rise in hello to her, or to see her own smile toward her son. She’s the spitting image of him with jet-black hair, pinned up in the back. Those eyes, the clear ocean blues that match his, show only happiness to see him steer toward her.
I stay back a few feet, waiting for her to slide out of the booth and for them to have the welcome hug. His arms wrap around his mom and then she tilts her head when she notices me. Drawing back from Rob, she questions him with her eyes and he nods. It’s a silent exchange between the two of them and I already admire their relationship.
Rob steps back, leaving us face to face with one another.
“Mom, this is Paige. Paige, this is my mom.” He delegates the introductions and she holds out her hand to me.
I shake the chilled thin hand in my own. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Paige.” Anyone around us can see the sheer relief on her face that I’m here with her son. I can practically see the invisible hopes looming inside of her. That I might be able to heal her son and I can’t fault her, I’d be the same way.
“You too, Mrs. Winters.”
She shoos me with her hand. “Sara, dear. My mother-in-law took that name to her grave.” She nervously giggles, eyeing over my shoulder. I swivel around and don’t find anyone else besides the other patrons and the staff.
“My mom and my grandma didn’t get along,” Rob chimes in, stepping aside for me to slide into the booth.
“That’s an understatement,” Sara deadpans and sits down across from us, scooting all the way to the wall. “Good for Rob’s wife one day. I promised myself I wouldn’t fight him on anyone he brought home. If she loves him, that’s enough for me.” She beams a smile over to me and I unconsciously press my back against the booth. I thought things between Rob and I were going warp speed, this woman has me at the altar, probably in her dress.
“Mom.”
“Sorry, honey.” She pretends to zip her lips and throw away the key. “I have to remind myself baby steps.” She places her elbows on the table and rests her chin on her hands, peering over to me.
Her admiring eyes bring the self-conscious side out from me because this woman is viewing me like I’m the saving grace for her son. Although, he’s opened a sliver up to me, I know there’s a long way to go before I ever have a chance of saving him.
“So, Mom.” Rob distracts her from staring at me while his hand slides under the table landing on my thigh. It’s comforting to know he’s trying to ease this awkward situation. “Why are you here?”
Her eyes flash to his and then she sits back in her seat. “Um . . . let’s have lunch and then I’ll come over to your place.” She’s hiding something and Rob doesn’t miss it.
“No, let’s talk here.”
She eyes me again and then begins to have that silent chat with Rob across the table. He squeezes my knee and I reach down, wrapping my own hand with his.
“Go ahead, Mom.”
She hems and haws before her eyes glance to the back of the restaurant again. “I came up to talk to the Dean of Business.”
“Why?” Rob doesn’t get angry for her interference. Instead his vision casts to his mom for answers.
“You know Dean Henders is a good friend of mine. I’m an alumnus of Western.” She fills me in with a proud smile. “Ashton and I were in the same dorm our sophomore year.” She stares out of the window for a moment and I can’t help but assume she’s thinking about times gone by.
The waiter comes by and I hadn’t skimmed the menu, but I can ramble my usual order. Obviously, Sara’s familiar with the restaurant because she hands the young waiter her menu and rattles off what only regulars usually get. Even down to what she doesn’t want. “The Cuban. Heavy on the Dijon, no dill pickles. And of course a chocolate shake.” She smiles and then casts her sight back on me.
I order a turkey club with their signature ranch spread, I add a strawberry shake. Rob hands his menu to the guy and only says usual.
“Usual?” I question and the waiter smiles, slipping away.
“I may come here way too often.” He smirks, tightening his hold on my leg. God, his touch has me scooting closer to him.
“I’ve only ever been here a few times.” I admire the painted pink unicorns and light blue stars on the ceiling.
“So, your visit with Dean Henders was personal?” Rob asks the question that swam in my brain, but wouldn’t dare ask.
“Sort of.” Her shoulders rise and fall. Rob stiffens next to me.
“What does that mean?”
They stare long and hard at one another and my eyes ping back and forth like I’m in the middle of a standoff, waiting for someone to draw their gun.
“You know I want you to enroll back in school?”
“I told you on my terms. I haven’t decided yet.”
“Rob.”
“I know, Mom. Just give me more time.”
The back and forth finally disperses and Rob excuses himself from the table.
“I’ll be back.” I watch him disappear down the hallway under the restroom sign. A knot forms in my stomach as I slowly circle back to his mom.
Could this be more awkward? I think not.
“So, Paige. Are you Rob’s girlfriend?”
Man, she doesn’t beat around the bush.
“Just his roommate . . . and friend.”