Page 23 of About That Rule

CHAPTER9

AFTER NATE CHECKEDinto the Hilton at Fisherman’s Wharf, he took the time to unpack for his week stay. He did this whenever he traveled, even if it was only for a night. Living out of a suitcase had a melancholy sense to it Nate always tried to avoid.

He had a few hours until he was meeting Samantha for dinner, so he showered to not smell like the airport. The shower was like a reset button. Throwing on jeans and a green t-shirt, he got into his rental car and drove to visit his parents’.

“I’m home,” he yelled into the house as he walked in. His mom and stepdad lived outside San Francisco in the house he’d grown up in. He’d been telling them to downsize for years, but his mom wasn’t ready.

His mom, Natalie, rushed into the living room to meet him with a giant hug. “I can’t believe I get to see you a month after our Vegas vacation! It’s normally not so frequent.”

She was giddy with excitement over the notion. For a second, he felt like an ass for not visiting more, but work took up more time than he got credit for. He wasn’t always in playboy mode, despite what people assumed.

“By the end of the week, you’ll be begging me to go back to New York,” he joked as he moved over to his stepdad, Mark, for a hug.

“I doubt that,” Mark told him with a smile. “Your mom has told anyone who’s been willing to listen about how you were visiting. From the cashier at Bi-Rite Market to our neighbors. Every single one.”

They all got comfortable in the living room, Nate stretching on the couch. After the six-hour flight, his long legs felt cramped.

Natalie waved Mark’s comments off with a flick of her wrist. “My only son comes for a random visit, I can tell anyone I want. I love having you here, but this is a surprise. Is something going on? Are you all right?”

For a moment, he wondered how it would go if he said, I got so drunk in Vegas I blackout married your best friend’s daughter, and now we have to try to make said marriage work because it was court ordered. In reality, we’re just taking pictures pretending we’re trying. Oh, and I have constant blue balls because I can’t fuck anyone. He imagined not well, and it wasn’t because of the whole blue balls thing. Fake or not, if he was in a relationship, his mom would never let him hear the end of it because of how happy she’d be over the news. Once she discovered it was all pretend with one her closest friends’ daughters, she’d be pissed.

She’d probably try to ground him or something, even though it was a futile effort at his age.

“I’m thinking,” he paused, not wanting to get his mom’s hopes up about him moving back to the west coast, “about expanding the business to focus on historic home restoration. I want to see what the appetite is like out here.”

Her smile overtook her face as she grabbed Mark’s arm. “So, you’d be in the area more?”

Mark affectionately patted her hand. “How about we don’t worry about that until something is set in stone?”

Nate nodded. “Exactly. I’ll let you know if or when you can get excited over it.”

Her smile turned into the mom look—the one that made him cringe even though she hadn’t said a word.

“What?” Nate asked, nervous about her glare.

“Why are you staying in a hotel and not with us? It’s bad enough I don’t get to see you often, and now you won’t sleep here? Why?”

Mark shot him an empathetic look because he must have understood why a hotel was a better option, but it didn’t stop the scowl his mom gave him.

“And if you say it’s because of your roguish ways, I’ll be angry.” His mom wasn’t messing around. He lifted the corner of his mouth in a grin.

“Roguish ways? Who even says that?” Nate questioned her, his legs still resting out. He swore, the moment he stopped needing to stretch out, he’d be back on the plane for his flight home.

Mark silently shook his head, holding back laughter.

“They say it all the time on Bridgerton, but that’s not the point.”

“The show based in the eighteen-hundreds?” Nate was teasing his mom, but also hoping it would distract her enough to let go of his normal player ways.

“It’s a wonderful show, just like it’s a wonderful book series.” Natalie didn’t sound too convincing, but that was probably because she knew she was being veered off course. Her mom sixth sense was strong.

Nate glanced at his watch. It was only five, but he was ready to go. A conversation about his roguish ways was better left unsaid. It wasn’t like he wasn’t here all week and couldn’t see them later.

“I’ll have to look into the books.” He got up from the couch. “I have a lot of work this week and I’m less distracted at a hotel. Please don’t take it personal, mom. I promise to see you every day, even if it’s only for fifteen minutes.”

Her face lit up, and she clapped with excitement. “I’m keeping my fingers crossed work will bring you back here to California.”

Not one to make empty promises, Nate got up and walked over to his parents. His kissed his mom on the cheek and gave Mark a hug.