Game Saver - BJ Harvey Page 0,29

I met your dad.”

Um . . . eww.

“And how did you meet?

I grin at that because my mom is the biggest gossip I know. She harasses my brothers of their love lives more than me.

“We met at a bar originally, but he’s friends with Dani’s boyfriend and their friends.”

“And what does he do?” she asks in a singsong voice.

“He’s a doctor.”

“Oh my God. That’s awesome. I’ve got this weird bump on the side of my wrist, and I—”

“Mom! Do not ask him to check it out when you meet him,” I reply without thinking, and being my mother, she doesn’t miss it.

“So I’ll be meeting him then?”

“No . . . I mean . . . maybe . . . Oh, I don’t know. Stop it!” I reply, getting flustered.

“You like him!” she exclaims.

“Mom . . .” I warn.

“You do! So when are you bringing him home to meet your father and I?”

“What is this? The 1950s?”

“Abi-Jane Cook, you listen to me. If you have a new man in your life, your family will want to share in this newfound happiness.”

“Mom, no. Just no. It’s not like that, and now I bet you’re going to get off the phone and ring the boys and tell them all about it, and I’ll have four macho idiots knocking down my door demanding a word with Cade.”

“Oooh, Cade. Is that his name? I like it.”

“Mom,” I groan and drop my head back to rest on the back of the couch, my eyes closing in exasperation.

“I promise, precious. I’ll wait at least an hour before telling your brothers, and I’ll make them swear not to come down too hard on the boy.”

“He’s a man. A grown man. With a life, and a house, and a busy, demanding job saving lives. He does not need the ‘big brother’ speech. Especially since nothing serious is going on!” My voice gets all growly towards the end, and I can only hope my mother gets me.

“Okay, Abi. It’s alright. This one is special. We’ll give you some time. Oh, look at the time. Must go. Keep in touch and we’ll catch up soon, okay?”

“Mom, I—”

“Bye, precious,” she says, interrupting me and ending the call before I can protest any further.

It is almost two weeks after the fundraising ball, and today is the shelter for the homeless ribbon-cutting soiree.

I’ve chosen a sapphire blue tea dress with capped sleeves, a sweetheart neck, and a hemline that came to just above the knee, finished off with blush pumps. My hair is smooth and sleek, my makeup accentuating but understated, and overall, I feel more in ‘character’ this time around.

I don’t know why I’m compelled to do so but I know it’s not for appearances’ sake, or to make his parents happy, but for Cade.

This fake girlfriend assignment goes better than the first. The homeless shelter is one of the busiest in the city and has recently been expanded and completed renovated, a multi-agency initiative made possible by a sizeable donation from the Carsen Family Trust. Cade has shown me around the building, explaining to me all the new features and services available including room for fifty more beds than before.

Cade Senior and Annabel have been friendly from the moment we arrived, although Cade’s father still has a calculated look in his eye when he glances at me that I can’t quite work out. His mother even asks me how I’ve been and urges me to ensure Cade and I came over to Castle De Carsen—my name, not hers—for dinner with the family. Callie rolls her eyes at the invitation and gives me an understanding smile when I politely acquiesce to her request, advising that I will talk to Cade to organize a night off. Annabel has placed her perfectly coiffed hand on my forearm and squeezes gently, her medically-preserved eyes—if the lack of expression is anything to go by—softening as far as science will allow.

I’m standing by the food table when Callie nudges me with her elbow. “God, I swear I could eat a house right now. Probably explains why I’m the size of one,” she announces.

Unable to stop myself, I giggle and turn towards her, making a point of looking down to her perfectly shaped—and far from house-sized—baby bump, showcased in a cute-as-a-button baby-doll maternity dress.

“As if. You look amazing,” I reply.

“Oh, I hope you stick around. If you ever get sick of Cade, make sure you give me a heads up so I can kick his ass first.”

Looks like I