it, but the minute those words fly from my mom’s lips, I begin to choke on my own saliva. My mom immediately places the baby back in the high chair, walking her way over to me to slap my back just so I don’t suffocate on my own stupidity.
“Martha, be a dear and get us more orange juice, please?” my mom asks our cook, who is elbows deep in preparations for today’s meals, trying hard not to laugh at my mishap.
“Yes, Ma’am,” she singsongs with a pep in her step.
Martha brings over the juice, filling my cup up and giving me a stare that reads, ‘You sure have gone and done it now, you fool,’ along with an all-knowing, teasing smirk that needs no translation.
Even Martha knows I just fucked myself into a corner. Bringing a girl to a Walker event is overkill in any relationship. It’s like pulling up a large billboard announcing to all of Asheville’s population that I’m taken, and the girl in my arms is the one.
Beau and Calvin made sure not to bring their girlfriends to one of Mom and Dad’s parties until they had already bought their engagement rings. That’s how serious this shit is. And Mom asking me to bring Stone along to my father’s birthday party as if it weren’t a big deal, is all sorts of messed up.
Shit! How the fuck will I get out of this?
“I’ll think about it. Stone and I are still getting to know each other, so I’m not sure we are really there yet. You know, for the whole meet-the-parents thing.”
“Have you met hers?”
“Her momma,” I answer truthfully.
“See? If Stone isn’t worried about you meeting her family, then why are you concerned about her meeting yours? You’re not embarrassed by us, are you?”
“I don’t think giving you an honest answer will win me any favors, Momma.”
Martha’s loud snickering from the other side of the kitchen can be heard from way over here. Even baby Noah cackles, happily drooling down his chin.
Traitors.
My momma just slaps me upside the head instead of using her words. Lord knows it’s always been her go-to move when we give her sass that she doesn’t appreciate. She walks back to Noah and picks him up, nestling him at her hip.
“I can’t force you to bring your girlfriend to your father’s birthday party, but sooner or later, I do want to meet this girl.”
“Momma, don’t label us, please. She’s not my girlfriend. We’re just friends,” I reply, hating the ‘friends’ word with the passion of a thousand suns.
“Friends? Is that right? Fine. If that’s all you are, then you won’t hear a peep out of me.”
“I doubt it,” I mumble under my breath.
“What?”
“Nothing,” I reply, showcasing my most charming smile.
She starts making her way out of the kitchen with Noah in hand, and I think that will be the end of that. But again, like with everything in my fucking life, I’m wrong.
“But Finn,” she starts, turning around just enough for me to see her face, and continues, “if by any chance you change your mind and discover that you’re more than just friends, and I have a feeling that you will, my invitation still stands.”
I don’t say anything in reply. Why bother? I’d just be fueling my mother’s curiosity. When that woman gets something into her head, she will go to great lengths to get it. I won’t be the least bit surprised if, by the end of the day, she somehow has Stone’s number on speed dial.
I push my plate away and thump my head repeatedly on the kitchen table while Martha is on the other side of the room, laughing her face off. I get up from my seat, bringing the plate to the sink and give her my least threatening scowl.
“You were a real help back there. Thanks,” I mumble.
“You’re a grown-ass man. You should know how to handle your momma by now.”
“Hello?! Obviously, I can’t!”
But instead of sympathy, all I get is more laughter.
“Traitor.”
“Go on, boy. Get your ass to school!” She laughs, ushering me out the door.
The thing is, attending Philosophy class isn’t really high on my priorities list at the moment. So when I arrive late, I don’t even give Professor Donavan the polite ‘sorry, I’m late’ nod. I just walk in searching for Easton, knowing he would have saved a seat for me. When I find him at the far back of the class, I make my way there, slumping in the chair next to