as long as I can remember, my mother stayed at home, and my father worked long hours at his law office. Growing up, my mom was the one who taught me to bake and cook and do all the homemaker things. It’s ironic that she never wanted me to make a career out of it.
These were the pointless thoughts I rambled to Dean as he drove us to the party. I don’t think I stopped talking long enough to breathe because by the time he ushers me toward the gated entrance to my parents’ backyard, I feel faint.
“Are you sure we should be doing this?” I ask, turning to face him and wiping my sweaty palms off on my dress. “We could just get out of here and get drunk instead.”
Dean’s eyes dance with amusement. “Do you ever relax enough to get drunk, Norah?”
My brow furrows. “I’ve been drunk before…I think.”
Dean shakes his head and opens the gate. “It’s going to be fine. Let’s go have some fun.”
“Everyone keeps telling me to have fun,” I hiss, my hands clenching into fists by my sides. “What part of a bougie backyard barbecue with a bunch of sixty-year-old yuppies sounds fun?”
Dean’s shoulders shake with laughter, and the scent of his cologne engulfs me as he leans in to whisper in my ear. “Norah, you look seriously beautiful tonight. Please try to relax.”
I swallow the lump in my throat and ignore the shivers running down my neck from his hot breath on my flesh. He gestures for me to walk ahead, and my errant butterflies disappear because my parents’ backyard looks like it’s hosting a large wedding, not the intimate party for their close friends my mother described.
“She got a live band?” I croak in amazement as I recognize a cover song from Bryan Adams. My brows lift with amazement. My mother may be uptight, but she’s also the one who passed along the love of seventies and eighties power ballads, so this is actually pretty impressive.
However, the moment I see she’s hired servers in bow ties, who are probably sweating their asses off in this eighty-degree weather, her cool factor is blown to smithereens.
Dean rests his hand on the small of my back. “No back touches,” I hiss into his ear as goose bumps erupt up my spine. My body is seriously betraying me tonight, and I don’t need him getting handsy, making me even more of a mess than I already am.
“Sorry, I was only leaning in to ask if your mother knew I was coming?”
My eyes fly wide, and I whirl around to face him. “Oh my God, I was going to text her and completely forgot.”
Dean smiles while glancing over my shoulder. “I wondered because the woman coming toward us who has your eyes is currently staring at me like I have two heads.”
“Norah!” My mother’s voice peals from behind me, and I turn too quickly on my heel and damn near face-plant.
Dean’s warm hands engulf my waist to help stabilize me as she approaches.
“Hi, Mom. Happy Anniversary.” I pull out of Dean’s embrace and lean in to give her a tense hug.
“Who is this, pumpkin? Your Uber driver?”
I jerk back. “No, Mom. This is Dean.”
“Who is Dean?” she asks, her eyes widening like she’s going to cast a spell on me.
“Dean is my date.” I plaster on a smile and think I hear my teeth crack. “Dean, this is my mother, Elaine Donahue.”
My mother’s jaw flaps open and closed repeatedly like those ridiculous talking bass fish that pop out from the walls. “I…I didn’t know you were bringing anyone. You never—”
“Surprise!” I shoot her another toothy smile.
Dean reaches his hand out to my mother. “Mrs. Donahue, best wishes to you on your anniversary. Thirty-five years is incredible. We could all be so lucky.”
My mother wavers for a moment at a rare loss for words, and thankfully my father arrives to save her just in time. “Pumpkin, you look splendid.” He pulls me in for a hug, and I swear I feel him forcing me to exhale. “Who is this young man with you tonight?”
“Dean Moser, sir.” Dean reaches out and shakes my father’s hand. “Congratulations on your anniversary.”
“Thank you very much. My name is Jeffrey, but please, call me Jeff.” My dad reaches around and claps Dean on the back. “You’re a brave soul for coming to a gathering like this. These people will eat you alive.”
Dean laughs with ease and gestures toward me. “That’s why I brought