Page 5 of Make You Beg

Huh…what? “Don’t get ahead of yourself, Mom. He’s not.”

She frowns, her perfectly manicured blonde brows perched at the center of her forehead. “Don’t you want this, baby? I know you won’t admit it. But I also know deep down you miss your father and having a male figure in your life.”

“You’re the one who taught me that men lie and cheat and how we can’t trust them.”

“I know, baby. But people make mistakes, and I did, too. He really is different.”

“We’re here,” the taxi driver announces, bringing back Mom’s attention as he stops the car.

I stare out the window, at the row of restaurants in front of us. Not the one we’re supposed to meet at.

We’re a couple of blocks away from it.

Right. Because we can’t afford to take a full trip in a cab. Not with Mom’s waitress salary.

Especially since we had to travel to a neighboring town.

Mom pays the taxi driver and dusts off her sky-blue dress before opening the door.

“Let’s go, darling.” She stares at her phone. “We’re late.”

“I’d be fine staying here, really,” I say.

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

She drags me out of the taxi and fixes my dress, too.

It’s a long pink lace dress, and fancier than what I’m used to wearing. I’m usually way more casual with my style, and I pick darker colors. But Mom wanted to give Lucas a good impression, so she picked it out for me from a thrift shop. It’s supposed to be from a famous designer brand.

Paired with the pink flats, and my long, brown, pink-streaked hair pulled back, it makes me feel unlike myself. I’m putting up an act for a man I don’t even like.

But I remain quiet and follow Mom through the loud streets of New Jersey, her steps quickening with every minute that goes by. I know there’s more than love, more than how amazing a person this man is. There has to be.

There’s no way Mom’s falling for someone this easily again.

As far as I’ve heard, Lucas A’gosto is a successful businessman. I don’t know what kind of business he does, but his life is way fancier than ours. Like the restaurant we’re meeting at.

I’m certain part of the reason Mom’s pushing me to meet him is this man’s about to change our lives.

“How do you know this one will last?” I ask her, catching up with her as we cross one block.

No one ever has.

Mom scoffs. “Have a little faith in your mother, won’t you?”

“Oh, I do. You’re amazing, Mom. It’s him I don’t trust.”

“Well, you should. We’re not boyfriend and girlfriend anymore, Maddy.”

“What do you mean?”

Mom stops walking, turning to me. “Okay, this was supposed to be a surprise over lunch, but I can’t hold it back anymore.” She opens the small, white handbag slung over her shoulder and takes out something.

Fidgeting with her fingers for a moment, she extends her hand my way.

“Ta-dah!”

A golden ring with the biggest diamond I’ve ever seen is on her finger.