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“You know what,” she said. “I’m just going to tell my mom that we’re together, and if she doesn’t like it, she can deal with it.”
She sat up in bed, pulling out her phone and beginning to dial.
I sat up, too, suddenly alarmed. What the hell? This was happening so fast, and yet it was amazing as well.
“Do you want me to go?”
“No, I want you to be here when I call her,” she said.
I stayed, kissing up her back and caressing her neck. Laurie hit the call button, but hung up before it had a chance to ring.
“On second thought,” she said. “I want to go to my mom’s house and tell her in person. And I’d like you to go with me,” she announced, shooting me a look.
Oh fuck. That sounded bad. I knew I would be beyond uncomfortable confronting one or both of her rich parents that would inevitably see me as some low life stealing her daughter. Nonetheless, I agreed, knowing that the female needed my support.
“Okay, let’s get ready and head out then,” was my low growl.
We didn’t really plan what we were going to say. In fact, I didn’t plan on saying anything at all. I let her drive us to her mom’s house, and we marched straight to the door, ready to improvise and inform.
Rowena answered the door, surprised by our appearance.
“Hello,” she sniffed, looking down a long, pointy nose. “Hi, Laurie. What are you two doing here?”
“Can we come in?” my girl asked. “We’d like to talk for just a few minutes.”
Her mom glared at me but I refused to crumble in front of Cruella de Ville. My blue eyes flashed right back, challenging the middle aged woman.
“Fine,” her mom snapped. “Come on in.”
We entered the mansion, stepping into an all-white living room luxuriously done up with a sparkling chandelier and priceless antiques. Fuck. This place was a palace, designed to intimidate. But I wouldn’t let the woman drive a wedge between me and my girl.
“So, what can I help you with?” Rowena asked frostily.
“I just wanted you to know that I’m seeing Shawn,” Laurie stated. “We’re dating. We’re a couple.”
“Is that so?” her mom asked.
“He works for a different magazine now,” Laurie continued. “So no more workplace romances. And Shawn’s a writer’s assistant now, not just an intern. We both enjoy being together. We care about each other. So we’re going to be together, whether you like it or not.”
I looked at Laurie the entire time, appreciative of my woman’s bravery. It took a lot to stand up to the Dragon Lady, but my girl was doing it.
Rowena frowned. “I must say, this is coming as a real shock to me.”
“I’m not trying to shock you, Mom,” Laurie said, lower lip trembling. “I just wanted to be honest with you. Do what you will.”
Her mom cackled.
“Laurie, I’m not going to fire you. You can date whomever you choose. I have no problem telling you how to operate your work life, but your love life is entirely your business.”
Laurie and I exchanged puzzled looks. That seemed easy.
“Well good,” the beautiful brunette finally replied. “I’m glad to hear you say that.”
“I must say though, I’m amused,” her mom continued airily. “You haven’t gone to bat for a boy since you were in high school.”
“Shawn’s not a boy, Mother,” Laurie said assertively. “He’s very much a man.”
Rowena shot me a peculiar look then that was difficult to interpret.
“Very well,” her mom replied. “You don’t need to worry about losing your job over this young man right here.”
A smile wreathed my best girl’s face, and she got up, going over to hug Rowena. This time Rowena looked about as uncomfortable as I felt, her narrow shoulders stiffening.
“Thank you,” Laurie murmured. “I appreciate it Mom.”
But Rowena wasn’t done yet.
“But to be clear,” she added. “If your arrangement affects your job performance in any way, or if you pull a stunt like you two did last Thursday, I will replace you. Is that understood?”
“Completely,” Laurie said fervently. “It won’t. I promise.”
“Good,” said Rowena, blue eyes growing unreadable. “Will that be all, then?”
Laurie shot me a happy grin.
“Yes,” she burbled. “Thank you, Mom. Thank you again,” she nodded.
And with that, we left. But something tugged at my soul. That had gone off too easy. We’d expected a fight, if not all-out disownment. But instead, Rowena had capitulated much too easily. What was going on? But I put the misgivings out of my head because right now, I had the gorgeous brunette to myself … and we wanted to enjoy our time together.
13
Laurie
Shawn and I spent the entire day together, driving around L.A., talking, and getting to know each other more. The conversation was amazing, touching on subjects both personal and impersonal, drawing us close while making us alternately laugh and cry.
