if it’s okay, though.”
“She’ll be fine with it.”
I laughed, the sound bubbling up and out of me like water out of a spigot. “I’ve still got to ask.” I ruffled her hair, and she scrunched her nose, smoothing her static strands back down with her palms. “Now, what do you say we get started on your grammar homework.”
Sophia sighed, pulling out a big book from her bag. “Oh, okay.”
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I glanced at the screen with a sigh. My mom. She had been calling all week and I had been dodging her pretty successfully. Until now. “You get started and I’ll be back in a minute to check on your progress.”
I stepped out to the lobby, sliding the call button on my phone to the right. “Hey, Mom.”
“Well, there you are. Have you been avoiding us?”
I rolled my eyes, flopping into a chair. God, I’d rather be anywhere…having any conversation but this one. “No, of course not. Remember that little community service I’ve had to do? Yeah, it keeps me pretty busy.”
“Well,” she huffed, ignoring my pointed comment. “I’ve been trying to reach you. Your father and I are going to be coming into Charleston on Friday for Parents’ Weekend.”
“What?” My grip on the armrest tightened. “Why? I thought you guys were going skiing this weekend?”
She let loose an exhausted sigh, and I resisted the urge to snort at that. What she had to be exhausted over was beyond me. “Your father’s people said that with elections coming up, some family outings would do us good. Never mind the fact that we did this whole parent weekend thing your freshman year.”
My throat closed up. Yep, one visit four years ago, and suddenly they’re freaking parents of the year. That wasn’t entirely true, though—they’d usually come down during basketball season for a game or two…just never without their entourage. My skin wrinkled under my hands as I rubbed my eyes. “Okay, fine. You’re coming Friday. What’s expected of me?”
“Well, we’re going to get in late Friday night—we’ll just go right to the hotel. Then, we’ll pick you up Saturday morning for the Parents’ Weekend brunch, go see the matinee of the little musical your school is putting on, and then we figured dinner. You pick the restaurant.”
I swallowed, my heart jumping. “Can I bring someone to dinner?”
“Of course. Is it Brad? Oh, we just love Brad.”
“No, Mom.” I cleared my throat. “It’s a girl. I–I’ve met someone, and I think you’re really going to like her.” Well…as much as they could like anyone, that is. Shelby was smart and going places. And based on the neighborhood she grew up in, she came from “good breeding” as my mom would call it. Not the kind of girl they’d worry over signing a pre-nup or getting pregnant just to trap me.
“Oh?” My mom’s voice sounded genuinely shocked. “Really?” There was the hint of a smile in her voice with that question, and I had to laugh.
“Yes, really. She’s great, Mom. She’s beautiful and sweet and funny and—”
“Does she have money?”
My smile dropped and my heart squeezed for Shelby. She was too good for this family of mine. If I really loved her, I wouldn’t even bring her into this mess. But I’m a selfish bastard. I sighed, falling back against the chair. “Yeah. I mean, I think so. She lives in the building below me. You know how hard it is to get an apartment in there.” There was a hmmm from the other end of the line. “Mom? Please don’t embarrass me.”
“Oh, sweetie. Don’t be ridiculous. We can’t wait to meet her. What’s her name?”
I opened my mouth to answer and quickly snapped it shut. Oh, hell no. I was not giving them her name. They’d have an investigator looking into every aspect of her life the second they knew. “Well, I’m not sure if she’s available Saturday…it’s kind of last minute. I’ll check and let you know.”
“It’s only last minute because you wouldn’t answer your phone,” she sneered pointedly.
Through the glass doors, I saw Sophia waving me over. I sent her a nod. “I have to go, Mom. Duty calls.” And before she said good-bye, I hung up.
Pushing back through the doors, I nearly tripped over my own feet. In one of the private rooms, Shelby was standing, bent over some paperwork. Behind her—that son of a bitch, Ryan leered at her ass, his hand branding her lower back. I knew nothing was going on—they were