Layover (Open Skies #1) - Becca Jameson Page 0,54

fortification, Libby shook the thoughts from her head and focused on what needed to be done here. She wouldn’t give up Jason to appease her mother. Not a chance. That was asking too much. Now she just needed to find a way to explain herself and pray her mother didn’t decide to kick her out of the family.

Libby dragged herself to the front door. The moment she opened it, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Several people were in the living room. Not just her parents. Why am I not surprised to find a man near my age among them?

Libby gritted her teeth as her mother rushed forward to hug her. “Finally! I was beginning to think you wouldn’t show up.”

Libby let her mother hug her but barely returned the affection. She was already livid. Warning bells were ringing loudly in her head.

And sure enough, her mother spun around and motioned for the man speaking to her father to join them. “Libby, this is Javier. I told you about him. He’s new in town. I thought you could take him to that Mexican restaurant on 3rd street that you love. Maybe drive around a bit afterward and give him the lay of the land.”

Libby’s face heated. She was going to kill her mother. The woman was high-handed and frequently overstepped, but this was beyond the pale. She had totally cornered Libby.

Javier looked chagrined. At least he wasn’t as cocky as some of the other men her mother set her up with. “We don’t have to do that. It’s not like I can’t figure out my way around Dallas without help,” he joked.

Maria shook her head and turned toward Libby. “It’s no bother at all. Is it, Libertad?”

For the first time in Libby’s life, she truly wanted to scream at her mother and stomp out of the house. However, there were other people in the room. Not just her father, but an older couple Libby recognized as neighbors from two doors down. Undoubtedly they were Javier’s grandparents.

“You two go. Have fun. You don’t need to hang around here with the rest of us.” Maria practically shoved them toward the door.

Libby hadn’t even had a chance to say hello to her father. When she glanced his direction, he gave her a little wave, his expression indicating he thought this matchup was a great idea.

Before Libby could protest at all, she found herself on the porch with Javier.

Javier tucked the tips of his fingers into his jeans. He chuckled nervously. “You knew nothing about this, did you?”

“No.” She lifted her gaze to him. This was not his fault. “Sorry. My mom…”

“Yeah, I get that. My grandmother is the same way. Always trying to match me up with someone. Look, we don’t have to go out. We could just leave and go our separate ways. None of them will ever know. We can tell them later we didn’t feel the connection.”

Libby sighed. Javier was a nice guy. He didn’t deserve this shitshow. This was not his fault, and he seemed like a good guy. She also knew exactly the sort of hell he might have to face from his grandparents if they didn’t at least go to dinner, and she didn’t want to put that on him.

She took a deep breath and glanced at the door. “We’re here now. We have to eat. Might as well appease them and report back. As friends,” she added.

Javier offered a wan smile. “I don’t mind if you don’t.”

Yeah. He’d definitely catch hell, but he was trying to spare her. Libby led him to her car. “I’ll drive.”

Her hands were shaking as she entered the Honda and started the engine. She didn’t say a word during the three-minute drive to the neighborhood restaurant.

When they were seated, she ordered iced tea and finally met Javier’s gaze.

He ordered a beer. “Do you have a boyfriend?”

“Yes.” This was the first time she’d said that out loud to anyone who knew her mother. “I haven’t told my mother. She wouldn’t approve.”

He nodded. “I get that. My own parents aren’t as particular about who I date, but I’ve come to realize my grandparents are still old school. I think they’re hoping that now that I’m here staying with them for a while they’ll be able to find me a nice woman they approve of.”

Libby smiled. This isn’t so bad. At least Javier understood and was on the same page. “It’s ridiculous, and I hate that I’m scared to tell