Page 47 of Freeing Lark

That did it. Lark set her coffee down, having reached her limit. Desperate times call for desperate measures. “I’m dating someone,” she announced.

Silence met her declaration. Even Wren looked up. Hildi blinked. “What?”

“I’m dating someone.”

Alex laughed. “Who?”

Lark’s heart began pounding. She hadn’t planned this. She hadn’t even thought that far. But there was only one name that came to mind. One person who would make her mother’s matchmaking ambitions implode. “Cormac.”

Hildi frowned. “Cormac who?”

Lark swallowed. “Shibley.”

Wren’s eyes widened. “Who is Cormac Shibley?”

“My boyfriend.” The lie came easier than it should have.

“We’re serious.”

Hildi stared at her. “You’re dating a man named Cormac Shibley?”

“Yes.”

“Who is he?”

“He’s...” Lark scrambled. “He works in security.”

Alex laughed. “Of course he is.”

“What’s funny?”

“You’re dating a mall cop,” he wrongly assumed, his booming laughter echoing as he spoke.

Hildi looked appalled. “Security?”

“Private security. You know, kinda like what Grant Calloway does,” she couldn’t help adding the dig.

“What family?”

Lark hesitated. “His.”

“His family?”

“Yes.” Lark knew what her mother was looking for, but she was done playing her game.

Hildi pinched the bridge of her nose. “How long have you been together?”

“Long enough.”

“Where did you meet him?”

“Bell Creek.”

“How romantic.” Lark knew that tone. It was the same one her mother used when discussing mold.

“He’s a good man.”

Hildi stared at her. “Does he have money?”