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“Don’t. I already said I’m good,” she mumbled as she scooted in the booth.
“This place is positively charming,” my mom exclaimed as she took her place across from Paris.
I sat down and put my hand on her thigh because I liked touching her, but also to hopefully relax her a little. I clenched my jaw when I felt how nervously her leg was bouncing. Sal didn’t miss anything, and his inquisitive eyes narrowed. “You’re from here, right, Paris?” he asked.
“Yes, I am.”
“What do you recommend?”
“Honestly, everything is great.”
“Hey, everyone. I’m Summer. Hi, Paris, Scotty.” Summer greeted our table. “Can I get you started with some drinks?”
Sal waited for my mom to go first, and by the time Summer came back with our drinks, we were ready to order. I hoped our food came quickly because I was starting to notice weird glances in Paris’s direction from other customers.
“So you’re a wedding planner?” Mom asked. “That sounds so exciting.”
Shit. “Mo—”
“It’s fine.” Paris cut me off. “I was, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out.”
“Oh, buttercup, I’m sorry.”
Paris powered through. “It’s okay. Everything happens for a reason, right? I work as a medical coder from home now, so I get to be around my cats all day.” She looked at her cup and moved the ice around.
Sal watched her fidget, and I knew he could feel the tension coming off her. What the fuck? I kicked him under the table, and he understood my message and loosened up. “How’s business?” He finally put his attention on me.
“Good. I’m still assessing. He’s got a damn good system, and so far, I haven’t been able to penetrate it.”
“That’s not like you.”
I was not a fan of his tone. “Royal Ace Security is the best security company in the country, so you really think I’d be able to walk in there and hack into it that fast? Q and Tally are really good at what they do, so it’s proving difficult, but nothing is impenetrable for me, so I’ll find a way in. Soon.”
He seemed satisfied with my answer even though I could tell he thought I was distracted with Paris, which wasn’t a complete lie. We talked a little bit more about my job, and my mom asked a million questions. Paris participated and laughed a couple of times, but was otherwise quiet and mostly listened.
“All right, here you go.” Summer distributed our meals and brought refills, and we dug in.
I was starving, and I knew Paris had to be too, but she barely touched her omelet. “Man, good stuff.” Sal wiped his mouth after the last bite of his steak and eggs.
“Yes. My benedict was the best I’ve ever—”
“Paris?”
I felt my girl tense when a man approached our table, which made both Sal and I do the same not knowing who he was. As soon as I got a good look at him, I relaxed. My mother, completely oblivious, introduced herself. “I’m Scotty’s mom, Maggie, and this is my husband Sal. You have to be Paris’s brother, right? Is this your brother? You look so much alike.”
“Yes. This is Austin.”
“Austin and Paris. Your parents probably have an interesting story for why they picked those names.”
“If they do, they never told us why. Hey man, Austin Donovan.” He stuck his hand out for me, and I shook it.
This couldn’t have happened at a worse time. “Scotty Damato.” I hadn’t gone by Calhoun for over a decade.
“You’ve never met?” Sal questioned.
“Not yet. Paris has been keeping him in hiding,” Austin joked. “They were supposed to be coming over for dinner and drinks tonight so we could officially meet, though. Are y’all just visiting?”
Smart man seeing an opportunity and taking it, and also asking my mom and not Sal. “We are. Just came to see where our Scotty is living now and to meet his beautiful girlfriend.”
