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Alley knew all too well just how nutty Mrs. Abbott could make me, and anyone else she decided needed to be micromanaged or told how their life should go, and exactly what they did wrong every second of every day. My bestie had her own run-ins with my mother over the years, but Alley seemed to let it go in one ear and out the other after a while.
“So what did the Evil Queen want this time?” Alley asked, her tone snarky and irritated. If my girl had her way, I would never talk to my parents again because she didn’t like the way they made me feel. But even though I separated myself from them a lot, my brother was still in their clutches, and I loved him. I couldn’t imagine leaving him alone to be the only one to deal with them, so for him, I tried at times.
“Their annual anniversary gala at the country club is coming up and of course my presence is requested. As much as I despise that place, this function and being around them, as well as anyone there, I can’t leave it to Landon alone.”
“Aww yes, the amazing country club and all its beautiful people, worthy of attention.” Alley’s face was lost in thought as she said it and I was fairly sure something was going on there that didn’t have to do with me, but she spoke again before I could ask her what she meant.
“So are you taking Gyth with you?”
“Umm, I haven’t asked him yet, but I planned to. I just hope he says yes because I told my mother I was bringing someone when she insisted she was setting me up and had a very good prospect for me when I got there.”
“Oh dear Lord, that woman. Does she ever stop?” Alley asked in a pissed-off tone.
“Maybe we should talk about why you seem so mad right now, you think?” Looking at her, I waited for her response.
“Nope, you know how that lady gets me riled up, that is all it is.” She may have said this, but I wasn’t truly buying it. “Hey,” she started again, breaking into my thoughts. “The bright side of it all is you will get to go shopping for a fabulous dress and you may very well have the hottest guy on your arm.”
Giving her a smile and flipping my hair over my shoulder, I said, “You do speak the truth there.” But what if he says no? I am not sure the scene is Gyth’s thing,” I told her.
Placing one of her hands on my upper arm, she laughed, but I wasn’t sure what was so funny. “First, that man will deny you nothing and if you think he might you really have lost it. Two, having him there will drive your mom bat shit crazy and I would give anything to be a fly on the wall and witness the whole thing.”
“Damn you’re a smarty pants,” I told her, giggling now too. “I just have to explain the whole thing and ask my man if he will be my date for this shindig.”
“Where are we going, Sunshine?”
Both Alley and I jumped at the sound of Gyth’s voice.
“Geez, Mr. Stealth Man, next time try and warn a girl,” Alley sassed and then got up off the couch. “And that is also my cue to skedaddle.”
Once Alley had moved out of the room, Gyth approached. Grabbing my hand, he pulled me up so I was standing chest to chest in his personal space. He softly kissed my forehead, nose and, then lips. It was a damn good way to say hello and something I had gotten used to with him.
“So, what is this I hear about a date?” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. “You want to ask me out, Sunshine?”
I wished it was that simple and just that. A date between just him and I, out on the town, doing something we would actually enjoy. What I was about to ask him to do, neither of us would like.
Detest is a better way to describe it.
“Don’t get too excited,” I started, placing my hands on his strong, solid abs, causing my palms to tingle with awareness. “My parents...” Gyth's face contorted into a scowl at just the mention of my mother and father. “They have their anniversary party every year at the country club they belong to, and I really didn’t want to go alone. I am hoping I can convince you to come with me.”
Just then Ash appeared and barked twice.
“I think she wants to go with you,” Gyth commented.
That would be hilarious if I could take her. Just thinking of walking in with Gyth and Ash made me giggle, because oh my God, what I would give to see my mother’s face at that moment. She certainly wouldn’t approve of either, but I didn’t care. They were mine.
“Why are you laughing?” he asked me, with a confused expression on his handsome face.
“I am just envisioning you and Ash both coming and crashing the party. The looks on my parents' faces and everyone there would be the funniest shit.”
Gyth smiled at me, then covered one of my hands with his, that rested on his chest, as Ash rubbed up against our legs. He dropped his other hand and patted Ash’s head. Pleased with the attention, Ash snuggled for a minute, then ran off toward the kitchen where she could probably hear Alley rummaging around.
“You have yourself a date.” Kissing my mouth in a fast, small peck, he leaned back. “I go where you go, and I would never leave you to muster through a night alone, that I know you don’t want to be part of.” He wrapped his arms around my back and pulled me flush against him, then spoke softly in my ear. “You are a beautiful soul.”
Letting out a breath I’d been holding, waiting for him to just say yes, I felt some of the tension that had been squeezing me in its grip since I first talked with my mother, leaving my body. But I did need to prepare him for the other part of the horror story.
Pushing back out of his hold so I could see him, I said, “There is more.”
With a raise of his brows in question, I continued. “My mom thinks even though I said I was bringing someone, with the hope that you would say yes, that she is going to set me up with someone.”
