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She just shrugs casually as she chews. “It’s just something I do, given my line of work.”
“Well, this night took an interesting turn,” Noelle quips before turning back to me. “Look Charlotte, just breathe. The man is attractive, I give him that. But other than seeing him occasionally around the city and in Hawaii next month, is it really that big of a deal that you ran into him?”
I shake my head. “No. It’s just odd, given the timing of everything. And after that weird massage on Monday, and the phone call with my mom this morning…”
“Wait…Mommy called again?” Penelope asks.
“Oh yeah. And get this shit. She told me I need to find a date for Hawaii now since she kind of told all of my parents’ friends that I’m seeing someone.”
“What on earth?” Penelope shouts.
“Yup.” I lean back in my chair, my appetite completely gone at this point. Which sucks, because I really like food and was really looking forward to this meal about twenty minutes ago. “So now I have this pressure to find someone to take, and you know how hard that is.”
Noelle nods. “You’re preaching to the choir, sister. I can’t find a normal man on this side of Hollywood Boulevard. Good luck finding one that you feel comfortable introducing to your family, and all of their friends.”
“Exactly. Ugh, you guys. Why must everything happen all at once?”
“Because that’s the rule of three,” Amelia says. “Now that you’ve had your third strike, you should be good for a while.”
“Let’s hope so. Between the pressure at work, pressure from my mom, and now running into Damien, I’m not sure how much more I can take.”
Penelope snaps at the waiter walking by. “We need four more martinis over here, please. And keep them coming.”
* * *
“If you don’t leave now, you’re going to be late for that lunch with your parents.” Helen stands in the doorway to my office, giving me her motherly glare. She may be twenty years older than me and my assistant, but the woman still scares me a little bit.
I continue staring at my computer screen, reading the article in front of me. “I’m aware. That’s why I haven’t left yet. I can just claim I lost track of time with work and miss it altogether.”
“Charlotte Montgomery, go have lunch with your parents. There will come a day when they will no longer be around, and then you’ll kick yourself for not seeing them every chance you could.”
I glance up to see Helen’s face soften. Given her age and her comment, I can only assume her parents are no longer around. “Fine. You’re right.”
“Yes, I am. It’s a gift.”
With a small laugh, I close out of the file I was reading, grab my purse, and walk past Helen so I can exit the building. “Please have a fresh cup of coffee and some Excedrin waiting for me when I return. I’m almost positive I’m going to need it.”
Helen gives me a mock salute. “Yes, ma’am.”
Smiling to myself, I head for the elevator and check my appearance in the shiny metal doors while I wait to be taken down to the ground level. When my mother confirmed our lunch plans this week, I made sure to pick a restaurant that I knew she would be happy with and was also close enough that I wouldn’t have to drive to get there. Traffic and finding a place to park in Los Angeles could qualify as its own version of The Hunger Games.
I arrive at Water Grill Restaurant about ten minutes before my parents are scheduled to arrive, so the hostess takes me back to our table and I settle in, checking emails on my phone while I wait. The smell of fresh seafood assaults my senses, and the open room is buzzing with chatter and business. There’s a reason this place is busy on a Friday afternoon for lunch, and the menu is raved about all over social media.
My nerves spike as I wait for my parents to arrive. Mostly I’m excited to see them, but the other part of me knows that being subjected to my mother’s meddling ways in person is a whole different ball game than when I’m speaking to her on the phone.
“Damn. We cross paths again.”
I look up to see Damien towering over me, dressed in a classic black suit that makes his eyes pop even more. His cocky presence holds me captive before I snap back to reality.
“I think this is God’s way of telling me to dine at home.” Seriously, how on earth can this man not exist for this long, and then start popping up everywhere I go?
“I take it you’re not happy to see me.”
“Uh, that would be a no.” I glance around the busy restaurant. “What are you doing here, Damien? Did you know I would be here or something?”
Sliding into the seat across from me, he crosses his leg over the other, resting his ankle on his knee. “Not at all. This was just luck.”
“Luck is a strong word.”
Damien’s eyes travel all over me, and I swear I can feel his gaze draw a map all over my skin. “Who are you having lunch with?”
“That’s none of your concern.”
“Oh, come on, Char. We were friends once…”
“Ha. No, we weren’t. I think we were better at making each other’s lives a living hell than being anything close to friends.”
“You’re gonna sit there and pretend you’re not at least a little bit happy to see me?” he asks, holding up his finger and thumb with a little bit of space between them while smiling like he’s pleased with himself for making me irritated.
“I’d rather be getting a pap smear than be talking to you,” I fire back.
“Ouch. That doesn’t sound fun.”
“And neither is this conversation. Now, if you’ll excuse me…”
“Damien? Is that you?” I look up to find my mother and father standing behind Damien in his seat, the utter shock and awe on my mother’s face more annoying than the man sitting in front of me. And my heart drops down into my stomach.
But Damien stands, buttoning up his jacket before intercepting my mother for a hug. “It is. My word, Mrs. Montgomery…you look more beautiful than I remember.” Ugh, kiss ass.
“Oh, you are too sweet, Damien,” my mother replies as they hug and then he releases her. She cups the side of his face. “You are so grown up. It just doesn’t seem possible.”
“Yes, well, I’m afraid that’s what happens. Turning thirty kind of made me accept it myself.”
“I know. I told Charlotte that she needs to start using night cream if she isn’t already, or she’ll never find a husband.”
I roll my eyes as Damien looks back at me, a questioning smile on his face. “Well, I happen to think she’s even more beautiful now than she was when we were growing up.”
My God. He’s laying it on thick, isn’t he?
