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“It’s not strictly for dating.” Ellie’s voice took on a tone of exaggerated patience. “It’s to meet people with similar interests, goals... friends, basically. Now, come on, for me? And for Davis?” She shot me a pleading look, one she knew I was a sucker for.
I bit my lip, thinking. At least if I also got on the app, I could keep a closer eye on Ellie to ensure she stayed safe. If I did meet a handsome stranger, a boyfriend would be a good excuse to keep me far away from Dr. Judd and any other coworkers who wanted to ask me out.
“Okay, I’m in.”
“Great! Let’s go talk to Davis.” Ellie tugged me from the bathroom without a moment’s hesitation.
My mom picked up on the first ring. “Adam? Hang on for a moment!” Music blasted out of the receiver, then stopped abruptly. “Sorry about that! Frank and I are listening to an album we just picked up at that open-air market. You remember the one—”
I didn’t have the patience to listen to a pointless story about their shopping trip. “Mom, what’s going on with Grandma?” I interrupted.
“What do you mean? Have you heard something?” Mom’s confusion would’ve been comical if I hadn’t been so worried.
“Your text,” I reminded her. “You said you’d spoken to Grandma and that I should call.”
Mom giggled. “Oh, Silly, I was only letting you know that we’d spoken. I didn’t mean there was something wrong with her! She’s very excited about our cruise in a few weeks.”
I blew out a long breath. Why had I jumped to the worst conclusion? I should have known it was something like that. “Glad she’s okay. And that she’s looking forward to the cruise.” Even if I wasn’t.
“She’s especially looking forward to meeting your girlfriend.” Mom cleared her throat in an exaggerated way. “Speaking of that, why didn’t you tell me you were seeing someone?”
“What?” I sputtered. There was no girlfriend, no prospects, and no chance I’d be bringing so much as an acquaintance with me.
Mom laughed. “Don’t be shy! Nicole told me all about how you’re bringing a special guest.”
I stifled a groan. There’d been a sum total of four emails and a Monee transaction between me and my little sister, who’d arranged the trip.
Email one: Nicole, informing me how much I owed her for my room.
Email two: Me, asking if there was a suite of two rooms available in case I wanted to bring a guest.
Email three: Nicole, confirming there was and giving me an updated total.
Monee app transaction: Me, sending her the funds.
Email four: Nicole, confirming the suite was booked.
Nothing at all with which to invent a girlfriend and blab to Mom.
“I never said I was seeing someone, and I donothave a girlfriend.” I spoke calmly but authoritatively, like I would to a panicked patient or a flustered young resident.
“But you told Nicole you needed a suite because you were bringing a guest.”
Clearly Mom required a little more explanation. I was quiet for a moment. “My intended guest wasn’t able to come.” Not that I’d actually asked Cassidy after discovering she already had a boyfriend.
“Oh, dear. Nicole and I didn’t think you’d bring a guest to a family trip unless it was a woman you were dating.” Mom gasped. “What will we tell Grandma? You should have heard her going on and on about how relieved she was that you’d finally found someone.”
“Why would you tell Grandma I had a girlfriend on so little information?” It didn’t slip past me that Mom spoke of what “we” would tell Grandma, even though she and Nicole had created the whole mess.
“Sorry!” Mom’s giggle made her expression of regret insincere. “Do you want me to call her back?”
My mind worked rapidly to come up with a solution to the delicate situation. Grandma needed to avoid stress so she wouldn’t go into cardiac arrest. In fact, I hadn’t wanted her to risk the cruise at all—contagion from the other passengers, and what would we do if her health declined on the ship?—but she’d only laughed and said she didn’t have enough time left on earth to hold back. Dumping bad news about my single status couldn’t do her any good.
“Don’t say anything yet,” I finally advised. “We’ll tell her my plus one got sick right before the trip.” I knew as I spoke that it was a bad idea. Grandma’s concern over my fake girlfriend’s illness might be more likely to upset her than my not bringing a girlfriend after all.
“If you think so...” Mom sighed heavily. “She was so excited.”
I would have been just as eager to introduce Cassidy to Grandma, but now I was going to ruin Grandma’s ninetieth birthday. Apparently, I was well on the way to being as big a disappointment as a grandson as my dad was a son.
