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“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” he says.
“What?”
His jaw drops a little, as if he can’t believe I don’t already know. “You cannot go to dinner with your ex-boyfriend in that dress.”
“James … ”
“Don’t ‘James’ me,” he retorts. “Like it’s not bad enough you’re taking him on a date to introduce him to your mom and her fiance.”
“I think it would be more accurate to say that I’m going to a dinner you’re too much of a coward to attend,” I snap.
“I’m not scared of your mom,” he scoffs. “I’ve just taken more shit about this than I can stand for one week.”
I put my hands on my hips. “It wouldn’t bother you if there wasn’t something in your head that still believes your parents are right.” The doorman calls up to tell me that Ryan is downstairs. “I have to go. Enjoy your shame-free night without me.”
“Elle, cut it out,” he says, following me to the elevator. “You know that’s not what it is.”
“No,” I reply, swallowing through the thickness in my throat. “I think that’s exactly what it is.”
Meeting Ryan in the lobby is high on the list of the most awkward moments of my life. James’s hand at the small of my back, an intense scowl on his face; Ryan smirking and making comments about my appearance intended solely to piss James off. Not surprisingly, James does not handle Ryan’s assessment that I look “so fucking hot” and “edible” particularly well. Ryan doesn’t handle James kissing me goodbye all that well either.
By the time Ryan shouts back, “Don’t wait up!” I don’t want to be around either of them. There are photographers outside, and I just can’t bring myself to care. All I want is for this trip to be done.
“How is it possible,” Ryan says, climbing into the cab behind me, “that your parents had that apartment all along and we never had sex there?”
“Well, for starters because I never knew when my dad was going to be in the city using it,” I reply.
“He’s not there tonight,” Ryan grins, waggling his brows at me.
“No, but my boyfriend is.”
“Once for old time’s sake?” he asks, but he’s kidding, and it’s impossible to stay mad at him.
I laugh. “Exactly how many favors are you planning to ask for tonight?”
“As many as you’ll grant,” he says honestly.
“I’m only granting one.”
“Do I get to choose what it is?” he asks.
“No,” I smile. “You absolutely do not.”
Chapter 52
We head across town to some steakhouse Tommy likes. They’re late, and as Ryan and I order our second round, it occurs to me that I wouldn’t be all that surprised if my mom forgets to show up at all.
“Are you nervous?” I ask, watching him slam his beer as if it’s ice water.
“A little,” he admits. “How about you?”
“Why would I be nervous?” I ask.
“You’re about to meet your new daddy, right?” he teases.
I snort. “I’m surprised it’s even lasted this long,” I tell him. “My parents were together for 20 years. There’s no way she’s going to end up with her first rebound.”
But the truth, despite my words, is that I am nervous. Not about meeting Tommy, but about seeing my mother by his side. She sounds so ridiculous, so besotted, when she talks about him. She doesn’t even seem capable of making good decisions right now, and I’m worried that it will become patently obvious once I see them together.
