Page 25 of True Blue

Teddy groans and reaches down, using his long Albatross wingspan to grab it.

“It’s my mom,” he tells me.

When I glance at the clock on my bedside table, I see that it’s nine-thirty. I frantically gesture at him to take it because something could be wrong.

Usually, people only call this late because of an emergency.

He smiles and leans over to kiss me before placing the phone to his ear. Before he can even open his mouth to say hello, I hear a loud, female voice come through.

“Theodore James!” she says, her tone exasperated. “You didn’t answer my text message.”

“Yeah, mom, sorry,” he says, looking at me and winking. “I’m on a date.”

Silence.

It stretches long.

Way too long.

Teddy even pulls the phone back to check that it wasn’t disconnected.

“Mom?”

“...a date?” she says, her voice sounding strange. Stressed, like it’s being pushed through clenched teeth. “With whom?”

“Her name’s Indie,” Teddy sighs, his arm tightening around me. “She was Nana’s doctor.”

“...is that even allowed?”

“Yeah,” Teddy says, breezily. “She’s not her doctor anymore.”

“Hm...” she hums, and the tone of it sounds off. “Well, I know how you boys need to have some fun⁠—”

“Mom, it’s very serious,” Teddy says immediately, smiling at me.

“Theodore,” she gasps. “I’ve never even met this girl yet!”

“And you will, soon.”

My stomach drops.

Oh, right. I was so excited to jump into the deep end without actually considering what it entails to be in a relationship. Meeting the family, new faces, new names, new routines to learn.

Teddy feels my body tense against his and he brushes his hand soothingly up and down my back.

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me⁠—”

“Mom, I’m being very rude right now to the girl I love⁠—”

She squawks.

“What?!”

“—right now, so I’m going to let you go.”

She huffs before her voice comes through the line, sounding cheery.

“Bring her to dinner this Sunday. Your sisters are coming home. I guess I need to meet this... Bindi.”