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My father crossed his arms and held my eyes. "When can I meet him?"
Damn...
"You can't and there's no reason to."
"He owns the company you work for. I think that's a good enough reason. Where's his office?"
"He doesn't work here. He's turned over the management of the publishing company to someone else. Besides, he's in California with his brother, who was just in a very bad accident and is recovering." I glanced at my mother, but she was smiling, happy at the thought I was dating a very rich handsome bachelor. "He opened a new office in LA and he won't be back in town for a week or so."
"I'd like to meet him when I'm back in town in two weeks," my father said, placing his hand behind my mother's back. He pointed to the door. "Now that it's settled, let's get some lunch."
My mother gave me this excited smile. She didn't care about Josh's father and his involvement in my father's business partner going to jail. All she cared about was finding me another husband.
Oh, God...
We had a nice lunch down the street at the Italian restaurant where Josh and I went for world-famous meatballs. If I could have been honest with them, I could have raved about how romantic it was that Josh took me there when I first arrived, but I didn't want to give out too much info. I hoped to convince my father that we weren't serious, and that he was just a friend. I knew that if he thought were serious, he'd be all over Josh, expecting to meet him and talk to him about life and his views on government intervention in the marketplace or something else he championed as a politician.
Josh was a liberal and my father was a conservative. I figured they'd be like fire and gasoline.
It wouldn't go well, especially if my father brought up his former business partner...
Finally, when it was time for them to go to the airport, we said goodbye and I waved down a taxi to take them to JFK. We kissed and hugged, and my father looked in my eyes, his voice serious.
"I want to meet this Josh when I'm here again."
"Father, it's not what you think. We're not dating."
We're fucking our brains out every night exclusively.
"I know you," he said, shaking his head. "We'll have a drink and get to know each other."
"We're not serious. We're just friends," I insisted, my fingers mentally crossed because I honestly didn't like to lie.
"Just a drink and maybe dinner."
Then he got into the taxi and my mother waved at me through the window as they drove off.
"We're not dating!" I called to the taxi as they drove away.
My mother blew me a kiss.
Later that night, after I'd fixed myself a cup of ramen and a bagel with peanut butter for supper, I sat down on the sofa and checked my cell for messages. It was still early back in LA and Josh was probably at home with David and his other brother, Christian. I wanted to talk to him, but I didn't want to interrupt, especially if his brother wasn't doing well emotionally.
I missed him. I'd grown used to having him every night since we started to see each other. I hadn't seen him for only three days, but I still felt a hole in my life where he usually fit. I hated the thought we'd be apart for another few days.
Maybe I was falling for Josh, despite my best intentions.
Falling hard.
My cell dinged, and I grabbed it, hoping to see a text from him.
It was my mother.
MOM: Sweetie, you're going to have to admit to your father that you're dating Josh.
ELLA: What makes you so sure I am?
MOM: I texted Steph and she fessed up.
