Lured into Love (Blossom in Winter #2) - Melanie Martins Page 0,117
leaning toward me. “Mainly if it’s to take you to lunch.” I can’t help but shake my head in total disbelief. Matthew driving my mother and me to lunch. What world am I living in?
Damn, a few months ago, it would’ve been Alex who would be taking me somewhere. He’d greet me with a kiss, open the rear door to invite me in, and once inside, he’d remove my panties, unzip his pants, and—
“Petra?” My mom’s voice brings me back to earth, and my heart tightens because those memories are nothing but distant ones, belonging to a reality I’m no longer certain I’ll experience again. Jeez, incredible how life can change with the snap of a finger. “Shall we?”
After stepping into Franchia Vegan Café, I tell the waiter we want to have a quick lunch as we have class starting soon. Fortunately, he seems to be a young college student too, so he nods in understanding and ushers us to a table, handing us three menus.
“I’ll be right back,” he tells us.
Good.
I sit in front of Matthew, with my mother beside us.
After a few moments checking out our menus, I feel a hand stroking my arm. Looking up, I see Mom smiling at me as she does so. “I’m so glad to be here,” she whispers.
“I’m going to have the vegan sushi plate,” I say, my attention shifting to Matthew. “And you?”
“Uh?” he mumbles, his eyes still glued on the menu.
“Matthew?” I call again. “Have you decided yet?”
“Not really.”
I start shaking a leg impatiently under the table.
“Relax. I’m sure you will be on time.” Mom is putting on her sweet, innocent tone today.
Doesn’t she realize I’m impatient to leave her presence? “I have three books to read and a dissertation to give next Monday,” I lie, but the truth will only create a cold and unpleasant atmosphere, and we have just arrived.
“What is it about?” And she keeps her mellow voice going.
Does it matter? But instead, I say, “How to respond in a financial crisis.”
Mom nods, and as she feigns interest in my studies, she asks, “Are you managing to get back on track after all the classes you missed?”
“More or less,” I tell her. “But Matthew and the group are helping a lot.”
“Don’t forget, after class you have your appointment with Dr. Nel.” And I roll my eyes upon hearing her name. “Would you like me to take you there?” she asks, putting on her most caring expression.
“Anthony will do it.” My stern voice has finally rendered Mom speechless. She lowers her gaze, looking absently at her menu, and after a beat of a silence, she stands up.
“Excuse me, I’ll be right back.”
As soon as she leaves our sight, Matthew puts down his menu and leans forward. “Why are you so cold with her?” he spits out. “She seems like the sweetest mom ever.”
I huff at his words. “You don’t know her. Believe me, she’s malicious as a snake.”
“Why? Just because she’s against your relationship with that old dude?” What the heck? My jaw drops instantly at his vulgarity. “If I had a daughter, I’d do the same. Your godfather is fucking creepy. Glad your parents stepped in.”
I lean over and snap, “That ‘old dude,’ as you put it, is my fiancé.”
“Was your fiancé,” Matthew replies back, glancing at my left hand.
And I’m not sure what is more offensive—the fact that he believes a ring is the deciding factor for my being engaged, or that he’s siding with the woman who has made my life a living hell. Jeez, I can’t believe I supported him when he became vegan, only for him to become a total jerk again. One thing is for sure: if there was an award for the most awkward lunch ever, this one would certainly be the winner.
Mercifully, the waiter steps in and asks, “Are you ready to order?”
Taking a deep breath, I say, “I will have the beans.”
Matthew creases his brow at my answer. “You don’t want the vegan sushi?”
“I’m no longer hungry. Beans are enough.”
After the most pathetic lunch ever, Matthew insists on dropping me and Mom off at home. The fact that I have to share the same car as her twice is already bad enough, but as we get into the lobby of our building, Mom truly believes I’ll also share the same elevator. Wrong.
As the doors of the first one open wide, I gesture for her to step inside. “You go first,” I instruct with a fake smile.