Shit. "You really should have called me when you were planning this, Mom. Dad's in town too, and we already have dinner plans."
I'm not sure who looks more shocked, my mom or Mollie. Mollie says, "We?"
"Yes." I don't really want to explain the politics of my secret relationship to my mom, so I go with being curt. Mollie looks perplexed but doesn't press me on it.
My mom, though, is another matter entirely. "You are in a relationship and going to dinner with your dad?" she wonders. "What kind of alternate dimension did I fall into?"
My arm tightens around Mollie. My whole family situation is fucked up beyond reckoning, but I need Mollie to stay right where she is, not run away scared.
Luckily, she seems content to wrap her arms around my waist and settle her head against my chest. For a second, I suck in her sweet scent, and everything is all right. I feel like I'm okay.
"I can go to a hotel..." Mom is saying.
I shake my head and sigh. "No, it's fine. You just surprised me, as intended. Mollie's things are in one of the guest bedrooms, but there is an empty one. Let me show you."
Kissing Mollie lightly on the lips, I murmur, "Can you put on some pants?"
"Like I want to be naked around your mom." Mollie bounds off, Gordie right on her tail.
“Mom. Seriously?”
“Well, I just used the same gate code as when I stayed here last time. How was I supposed to know you were entertaining a guest?”
“Again, Mom. Mollie lives here, she’s not a guest. Come on, I can get you settled in the hallway down here.” I show my mom to the small guest bedroom. "Sorry, it's probably kind of dusty. Mollie uses thedoorway for her aerial silks but otherwise, the room never gets used."
"It's fine, Alex." My mom holds her arms out to me, beckoning. I hug her briefly and she pats my arm. "Mollie is very pretty. She seems sweet."
"She is sweet." I rub my mouth, not knowing quite what to do with my mom. "Should I try to reschedule my dinner?"
"No..." she says, pursing her lips. "I was thinking that maybe I could join."
"What? You hate Dad. At my high school graduation, you two had to be physically separated because you couldn't stop bickering."
Mom gives me a sidelong glance. "That wasn't my best moment."
"No." I hesitate. "Shit. I was supposed to tell you this, but things kind of got away from me. You're going to hate this, but Dad is bringing a date, too. Uhhh she's someone I used to date."
Mom's expression sours. "Your dad is dating a girl you used to date?? What the hell?"
"Yeah, it's awkward as fuck." I fold my arms across my chest. "But at least Dad is making an attempt."
"At what? Being an old skeeze?"
"I don't know. He wouldn't stop blowing up my phone until I told him I'd come."
My mom heaves an exaggerated sigh. "Alex, you don't have to go."
"I'm going. I'm taking Mollie as a buffer."
My mom pulls out her phone, already scrolling. "Well, leave it to me. I have some cards to play."
"Are you sure you want to do that? You moved to Florida just to get away from him."
"No, I moved to be near the Atlantic Ocean and all the sunshine." She pats my chest. "Go on, find your girlfriend. We'll talk later."
Leaving her to play cards or whatever she's planning, I go in search of Mollie.
On the way to the restaurant, my mom is glowing over nearly every answer Mollie gives her. "A figure skater? Really?"
