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“I’m heading over to Shirley’s now. I’m going to put in some orders before the guys get there. You know how Jamie is when he’s starving.” She rolled her eyes, but there was definite affection in her tone.
I smiled.
“Did you want to ride over with me, or are you going to wait for Kruger?”
His parents turned away from Madison to look at me. Their attention was like wet underwear. Uncomfortable.
“We’re still friends,” I told them like it wasn’t obvious.
“I see,” Mrs. Kruger said. How anyone could say two simple words and make it sound so unsavory was a talent I’d frankly like to develop.
Her eyes slid over my suit, which was visible beneath the open jackets I wore. My grip on Matt’s jacket tightened as I fought the urge to pull it in front of me like a shield.
“Is that my son’s jacket?” she asked.
“Oh, are you Kruger’s parents?” Madison said, stepping into the conversation. They both looked back at her. “It’s lovely to meet you. Kruger speaks highly of you.”
His mom’s demeanor shifted, going from snobby and standoffish to accepting appraisal as she took in Madison’s sleek, long hair, made-up face, and unquestionably designer outfit.
“Is that vintage Chanel?” she asked, indicating the bag on Madison’s forearm.
Madison glanced at the bag briefly before returning her gaze to the woman. “Yes. It was my mother’s.”
I could almost hear the old-money cha-ching go off in Mrs. Kruger’s head. Imagine what she would do if she knew who Madison’s mother was. She’d probably faint.
“How lovely to meet you,” she said demurely. “Are you my son’s girlfriend?”
A strangled sound burst from my throat, and I choked on my own spit.
Mrs. Kruger slid a glance at me. “Is that so hard to believe? My son is quite the catch.”
Madison’s nose wrinkled, and she glanced at me before turning back to his parents. “Actually—”
“You know, I think I will ride over with you if that’s okay,” I interrupted. I wasn’t sure what she was about to say, but it wasn’t a good idea. None of this was.
“Sure,” Madison said.
“Great. We should go,” I said, draping Matt’s jacket over my shoulder and starting off with the crutch.
“Probably a good idea. We’ve come to take Ben for dinner, so he won’t be able to meet you.” His mom’s words followed me.
I felt myself slump a little but used the crutch to hide it. Madison was looking at me, so I smiled and called over my shoulder, “It was nice seeing you.”
About as nice as Laurie Strode’s relationship with her brother Michael Myers.
“What the hell crawled up their butts and died?” Madison asked beneath her breath as we walked away.
I laughed, but it sounded more like a tired sob. “Don’t ask,” I whispered.
Just as we were passing, the locker room door pushed open with Ben and Matt filling the frame.
“Just who I wanted to see,” Ben said, heading in our direction.
I tensed, practically feeling daggers shoot into the back of my head from where his parents still stood. I was trapped in the middle with a mere crutch for support.
“Hey,” I said. “You guys swam great.”
Ben came forward to kiss me, and I jerked back, nearly falling over in my desperate attempt to evade the touch.
