Better If He Goes (Always You #1) - Allie Everhart Page 0,59

doing breast enhancements for famous people. My dad was furious when I told him I was coming here to lifeguard. So was my mom. But I don't care. It's my life, not theirs."

"You came here so you wouldn't have to work for that guy?"

"That was only part of the reason," he mutters.

"Nate kind of told me what was going on."

Brad nods. "I figured he had. I don't care that you know, but I'd rather not talk about it. Not right now."

"Okay." I pick up my glass of water and take a drink.

"Hey, we're not done here. You didn't tell me your dream."

I set my glass down. "Um, I guess my dream is to have a place to live that isn't a trailer. And to have a husband." I smile. "One who's really hot and treats me well. And I'd like a couple kids and..." I pause to think. "Oh! It'd be really great to live close to the ocean. Near a beach. I've never been to a beach, or the ocean, but I think I'd like it. I know I would. I used to have a clock that makes ocean sounds and I loved it."

"You don't have it anymore?"

"My mom used it and broke it."

"You've never been to a beach?"

"No. I've never left the state."

The waiter stops by again and drops off our food. It's a great meal, better than I've ever had. Then again, it could be the company more than the food. I love being with Brad. I love talking to him and hearing his stories. And I love that he's funny. He keeps making me laugh, which is what I need after all the stress with Nate.

After dessert, as Brad gets his wallet out to pay, I see him looking behind me.

"Shit," he mutters.

"What?" I ask. "What's wrong?"

He smiles and stands up. "Hey, Aunt Kathy."

Aunt Kathy? Nate's mom is here?

I whip around and see her standing in front of Brad with a man right behind her.

"Brad, what a surprise," she says.

Damn! I knew this would happen. I knew I'd run into someone I knew, but I didn't think it'd be Nate's mom. She never leaves the house. What is she doing here?

"Hi, Kathy," I say, standing up.

Her eyes bounce between Brad and me. "Nate mentioned you two were going out tonight. How was dinner?"

"Good," Brad answers, a big smile on his face. "The food was great. Did you just get here?"

"Yes." She turns to the man behind her. "This is Albert. He's the one who suggested it. I hadn't even heard of it, but he said it's new."

Albert, an older man with gray hair wearing a suit, steps up beside her. "Nice to meet you." He shakes our hands. "Are you friends with Nate?"

"Riley is," Kathy says to him. "Brad is my nephew. The one staying with me this summer."

"Ah, yes." Albert nods and smiles. "The doctor."

"Not yet," Brad says. "Got a few years to go."

"And how about you?" he asks me. "Also in the medical field?"

"Oh, um, no. I work at the hair salon downtown."

"I'll have to tell my daughter. She's been looking for a new stylist."

"I'm not a stylist. I just clean up."

He nods and looks away, like he doesn't know what to say. I get that reaction a lot and it always makes me feel like I'm not good enough.

"Albert, why don't you go get us a table?" Kathy says to him. She seems nervous. She keeps messing with her purse strap and her eyes keep darting around. "I'll be there in a minute."

"Nice meeting you both," he says before walking back to the hostess stand.

"So..." Kathy takes a breath.

"You can relax, Aunt Kathy," Brad says. "I won't tell Nate. I assume he doesn't know?"

"No." She breathes out a sigh of relief. "Thank you for understanding. I know I should tell him, but—"

"Wait," I say, interrupting. "This is a date? You're dating Albert?"

"It's only been a few months," she says.

"Months? You've been dating a guy for months?" I'm beyond shocked. I didn't know Kathy was even interested in dating. She's never talked about it.

"Please don't tell Nate," she says. "I'm not ready for him to know."

"I won't. I'm just surprised. I didn't know you dated. Not that you can't," I rush to say. "I mean, I think it's great. I just didn't know you did that. Dated."

I hear Brad chuckling from beside me. "She's not that old, Riley."

"Oh, no, that's not what I meant," I say to Kathy, shaking my head. "I'm sorry. I'm