Shit.“Cancel it! I will pay you whatever it cost, okay, just….” He couldn’t articulate why this was so important. “Please.”
Aubrey stared at him, calculating. Nate was wearing him down. He could see it. Finally.
“All right,” he said. “All right! This is the craziest thing I’ve ever done. I’ve never met anyone’s parents. They’re going to hate me or think I’m a gold-digger or—”
Nate exhaled a long breath as relief flooded his system. “No, you’re good. Mom followed your skating career. She knows you have more money than I do.”
“—and we have to get rid of your fugly vase, okay? You can’t be shacking up with a boyfriend when you still have your horrible honeymoon trophy on display.”
That was a fair point. “Thank you,” Nate said.
Aubrey sighed. “I can’t believe I’m doing this. Come on. Let’s go hide the evidence so we can let your parents in. I can’t believe your mom saw me naked.”
“If you thought that was awkward,” Nate said grimly, “wait till she tries to give me a high-five.”
IN POINTof fact, it turned out to be a fist bump.
A few moments after they finished hiding the ugly vase in the master bathroom, there was an actual knock on the door, and Nate and Aubrey went together to open it.
Aubrey wanted to die. He was making his own bed and he knew it. The problem was he was going to be lying in it alone after this week was over.
Nate cleared his throat. “Hi, Mom. Dad. You’re early.”
Nate’s father gave his son a look that Aubrey interpreted clearly asthis was all your mother’s idea. “Nathan. We’re sorry to drop by unannounced.”
“So, so sorry,” his mother chimed in, stepping inside. Aubrey believed her—her mortified reaction hadn’t been fake—but she was beaming with a lot more than embarrassment. She flung herself into Nate’s arms and squeezed.
Aubrey watched with a mounting sense of dread, but he still wasn’t prepared for the speed at which she released her son and fell upon him, taking both of Aubrey’s hands. “You must be Aubrey. Oh, we’ve heard so much about you. I should have suspected….”
Aubrey attempted a smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Overton.”
“Oh, no, no. It’s Diane, please.”
Nate’s father, Elliot, was more reserved, and within seconds, it was obvious where Nate got his sense of humor. While Aubrey was shaking his hand, Nate’s mother turned to Nate, mouthed, “Oh my God,” and held out her fist.
Aubrey had the pleasure of watching from six feet back as Nate went scarlet from his nape to the tips of his ears. He did the fist-bump, though.
Nate’s dad watched Aubrey watch this, his own amusement evident, and said, “On the plus side, it’s not like things can get any more awkward.”
“Bite your tongue,” Aubrey said automatically, then immediately regretted saying something so rude.
But Elliot laughed like Aubrey was hilarious and clapped him on the shoulder. “Come on, you can help me with the bags. She’s going to talk his ear off for at least the next fifteen minutes, and I swear she brought three outfits for every day.”
If Aubrey was expecting a shovel speech, he was disappointed. He almost felt indignant on Nate’s behalf. But he couldn’t really fault them. It was obvious the Overtons were warm, open people—a close-knit unit. No wonder Nate had never really thought much about hooking up. If Aubrey had grown up in a family like this, he would have been looking to build his own too.
He managed to make his escape after about an hour, citing a lunchtime social commitment. In actuality, he went upstairs to his frigid apartment, canceled his Hawaii trip, scheduled an emergency session with his therapist, and ate a sleeve of Oreos.
Then, feeling sorry for himself, he took out his phone and scrolled through the contacts.
Mom.
He left the name highlighted for a few seconds, deliberating. Did he really want to put himself through this? He almost always ended up hanging up feeling worse, irritated, even if the conversation had been fine.
He hit Dial before he could talk himself out of it, but the line rang three times and then went to voicemail.
Probably for the best.
Aubrey couldn’t have said what made him leave a message. Maybe it was the happy-families scene going on downstairs. “Hey, Mom. It’s me.” Wow, original. “Uh, I just wanted to let you know there was a change of plan and I’m sticking around Chicago this week. Anyway, I was just… calling to say hi.” For the first time ever. “Maybe I’ll try you again later.”
