Choosing Henley(25)

You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. “You are not coming for dinner at my mother’s house,” I state firmly, shaking my head at his audacity.

As he puts the Jeep in drive, he says, “Yes I am.”

“You can’t just invite yourself to someone’s house for dinner. That’s rude.” I’m grasping at straws as I feel my panic starting to choke me. I’ve never brought a guy home for dinner. Ever.

“I just did.”

When he smirks over at me, I want to throw something at him. I can’t even say that my mother doesn’t know I am coming for dinner because then he’ll know that I lied about having plans in the first place, which is something I definitely don’t want him to know.

“No,” is all I say back to him before turning up the radio so he doesn’t try to argue with me.

The drive to my mother’s house is short. She doesn’t live very far from town. When Jami pulls into the driveway, it’s only a little past five o’clock. Late my ass. I reach for the handle of the door before he even has the Jeep in park and hear him growl.

“I’ll get it,” he scolds before jumping out of his side. Jami the door nazi. Jeeze.

“Thanks for the ride,” I murmur under my breath as he helps me out. Then I turn around and head up to the front door. I only make it a few steps when I hear heavy footsteps in the snow behind me. When I quickly spin around, I find Jami trailing behind me. “What are you doing?” I ask, hoping my voice sounds as annoyed as I feel.

“I’m walking you to the door.” He pretends to look offended. “Someone recently told me I was rude. I’m trying to rectify that,” he says, grinning at me.

I raise my eyebrows at him. “By walking me to my mom’s front door?”

“Well, it wouldn’t be very gentlemanly of me if I didn’t make sure you got inside safely,” he answers with a mock seriousness to his voice.

He always manages to sneak past my guards, and before I know it, my face is splitting into a grin that matches his.

“Oh yes.” I nod my head dramatically. “Because Rock Falls at five o’clock at night on a Sunday is ever so dangerous.” I can’t help the laugh that escapes me.

“Exactly. I’m glad you understand.” He smiles back at me. I turn around, shaking my head at him, and I feel his hand settle onto my lower back. “I’ll do a better job of assessing the danger if I stay close,” he whispers from behind me.

I don’t bother answering as we climb the stairs to my mother’s front door. I didn’t expect to be coming by, and having left my purse at home, I reach out to knock. I stop myself midway, turning around to face Jami.

“I’m here all safe and sound. You’ve redeemed yourself.” I nod, gesturing for him to go back to his vehicle.

He opens his mouth to answer when the door swings open and my mother’s booming voice spills out into the early evening air.

“Lennon darling, I didn’t know you were coming over tonight,” she gushes, enveloping me into a big hug.

I hear Jami snicker behind me. Well, so much for avoiding the whole lying topic. Thanks, Mom. She pulls away from me, her hands still resting on my shoulders, and I can tell when she spots Jami standing there because she sucks in a breath.

“And who is this?” she coos.

“Jamison Henley, ma’am. Nice to meet you,” he says, reaching out a hand to her.

“Melissa Montgomery,” she answers. “But you can call me Meli.”

Jami corrects himself. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Meli.” He has his charm dial turned all the way up and my mother is no exception to its effect over women.

I find myself needing to clarify that we weren’t hanging out alone all day. “Jami has to get going now anyway, Mom. He was just dropping me off because we all rode together to the movies this afternoon.”

She looks at him and smiles. “Where are you off to in such a hurry, Jami?”

“Nowhere, ma’am,” he starts to answer when she gives him a little glare. “Nowhere, Meli. I don’t have any place to be,” he tells her.

That little shit. Walking me to the door my ass.

“Well, I have to take something out of the freezer anyway, seeing as I didn’t know Lennon was stopping by, and there will be plenty of food. Would you like to stay for dinner?” she offers, and I’m mentally bashing my head against the wall.

“He can’t,” I answer at the same time that Jami says, “I’d love to.”

My mom turns to glare at me over her shoulder. “Well, that’s settled then. Come on inside, kids. It’s freezing out here,” she says before heading back into the house.