I grit my teeth but ignore them, taking a sip of my drink and attempting to calm my racing heart. How have I lost control of the situation so quickly? I’m not used to them descending on me like this, they’ve never even been here before. I wouldn’t even be sure that they knew my address if it wasn’t for the fact they had to forward on letters that arrived home by mistake.
My phone buzzes on the counter and I nearly choke on my drink as I dart towards it before my mum–or God forbid,Cleo–picks it up for me.
I swipe it off the side and escape to my bedroom before answering.
“Hello,” I breathe into the phone.
“Hey pretty girl, you okay?”
I take a full breath for the first time since my parents barged into my house. “Uh?—”
“What’s up?” Jackson asks, on full alert.
“My family is here.”
“Oh,” he says, surprised. “I didn’t know they were coming over.”
“Neither did I,” I mutter.
“You need some backup?”
I take a deep breath. Backup sounds really nice right about now, but I can’t ask him to do that. He’s already done enough for me. I can’t ask him to rush to my aid when all that’s happened is an impromptu dinner with my stressful family.
“No, no, it’s fine. Just thrown me off a little. I can let you know when they leave.”
He hums on the other line. “Okay pretty girl. But you let me know if you need me. Send me a codeword or something. Oh, text me ‘Glitterball’ and I’ll rush right over.”
“Can’t it be something like SOS? It’s a classic for a reason.”
Jackson scoffs. “Don’t be so basic, Rosie. We’ve got our own secret code. It’s perfect.”
I laugh, feeling lighter than I have since I opened the door. I’ll get through this and they’ll leave soon. Plus, now I have backup on standby. I’ve got this.
“Okay, I’ll text you.”
“Good girl,” he says in a low voice and I have to squeeze my thighs together. Not now, I scold my horny inner self. This issonot the time.
“I’ll call you back when they’re gone.”
“Good luck.”
I hang up the phone and straighten my spine. I once read that if you stand in a superhero pose for a few seconds, it tricks your brain into thinking you’re confident. So I standthere like Wonder Woman and take a few deep breaths before returning to the kitchen.
My family are sat at the table, each with a bowl of risotto in front of them.
“Who was that?” Cleo asks innocently.
Before I can come up with a lie, Mum says, “We didn’t know how long you’d be so didn’t want to waste it.”
“Thanks,” I mutter, before spooning some of the risotto into my bowl. This was supposed to be a week’s worth of lunch but there’s probably only one portion left. Plus, since partially cooked, processed chicken was added, I don’t even know if I can have it. Never mind the vegetarian in me, the baby in me is almost certainly not allowed processed meat.
Maybe I can eat around it?I think miserably as I sit at my table. Not wanting to bring attention to the culinary dilemma I’m facing, I stir my food around in my bowl.
“So,” Cleo starts and I glance at her warily. It’s always tense the moment before she opens her mouth. I never know what she’s going to say but I brace anyway. “How have you been Rosie?” She asks the question so earnestly that I’m shocked for a second.
“Uh, good. I’ve been good, you know, just working.”
“Are you seeing anyone?”
