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“My apologies,” she said, but she wasn’t even remotely sorry.
She was up to something; I just had no idea what.
Sutton and I began the story we’d practiced on the car ride over. How we had run into each other at a bar one night.
“He was buzzed,” Sutton said, and I wanted to kick her ankle for the lie. “But that’s why he talked to me in the first place.”
“No,” I disagreed but figured it still sounded believable enough. “I knew I recognized her face, but I couldn’t place the where or why.”
“Then, Kayla came over to where I was, and apparently—” she said before I interrupted.
“It all clicked. The little fire starter.” I snapped my fingers, and Sutton growled, smacking my leg.
My mother laughed. She was actually smiling, listening to the two of us spout off this lie. “And then what? You asked her out, or did you make Kayla do the dirty work for you?”
“Kayla,” Sutton said at the same time that I said, “I did.”
We both sucked in a breath.
Sutton’s eyes grew wide, but she quickly recovered. “You did not ask me out that night. You talked to Kayla the next day and sent her home with instructions for me.”
“Instructions?” my mother questioned. “That’s not very romantic, Joseph.”
“She just means that I told Kayla that I wanted her phone number and to make sure she didn’t say no,” I explained.
“Even after the fire incident? I was under the impression that you two didn’t like one another,” my mother pushed. She clearly remembered more about that night than I did.
“That night was a big misunderstanding,” Sutton said. “We’re past it now.”
“I can see that,” my mother said as she reached for her tea once more and took another drink. “Is this thing serious? It must be if you’re making public appearances.”
Sutton’s leg muscles twitched under my grasp, and I gave her a squeeze.
“It’s getting there,” I said.
“It’s still new, but I like where it’s heading.” Sutton gave me a look, and either I misread her completely or I was too damn hopeful for my own good.
“So, I assume you’re planning on bringing her to the Social Month events?” Mother directed that question at me.
“That is the plan,” I agreed.
“And you’re ready for what that will entail, Sutton? I mean, for you personally?” she asked, this time looking straight at Sutton, who I felt tense once again under my grasp.
Sutton cleared her throat and quickly glanced at me before focusing on my mother. “I think so. If today was any indication, I have a pretty good idea.”
My mother grinned, but it wasn’t necessarily pleasant. “Today was nothing compared to what will happen if you continue being seen together. Especially after Social Month. The press will hound you at every step. They’ll camp outside your apartment door. They will talk to your coworkers at the hospital. They’ll dig up your past, your present, your parents in Boston. They will want to know everything about the woman who has captured Not-So Prince Charming’s heart.”
“Mom,” I chastised, not wanting her to scare Sutton half to death.
“No,” Sutton said, stopping me. “She’s right. It won’t be easy. But I’m sure Joseph will do everything he can to keep me safe, and hopefully, they’ll like me, so they won’t be too mean.”
Sutton was attempting to be lighthearted, but damn, she really had no idea how vicious the press and gossip columnists could be. Over the years, I’d learned, but I also didn’t give a fuck. Sutton would care. She’d be hurt by the things they printed and wrote about her. Especially if she started reading the comments. Those were not for the faint of heart.
“It doesn’t matter if they like you, dear. Being nice doesn’t sell. It’s not good for their business,” my mother warned before covering a yawn. “I think I need to turn in for the night. I have some things I need to think over.”
The three of us stood at the same time, and Sutton immediately reached for my hand and held it in a vise grip. My mother walked us to the elevator, and Sutton and I stepped inside. Right as the doors were about to close, my mother reached her arm out to stop them.
“It was really nice meeting you tonight, Sutton. This charade you two are trying to pull is cute, but you need to think long and hard about what you’re getting yourself into. And you, my son, should know better than to throw someone into the spotlight without warning. Especially when it’s all for show.”
