But it’s my mom, and you’ve gotta take care of family, even when they’ve fucked up more times than you can count.
I shrug as I lean against the doorframe. “Yeah, she obviously heard about our whirlwind of a romance-”
Natalie rolls her eyes.
“And she wants to meet her new daughter-in-law.” I wink. “She’s really excited to meet you.”
Natalie scrunches her face up. “You want me to go lie to your own mother’s face about us being married.”
“That’s the general plan, yeah.”
She wrinkles her nose and shakes her head. “No way.”
“Look, it’s not a favor for me, it’s for her. She’s sweet, you’ll love her.”
Natalie blows air through her lips and runs a hand through her deep brown hair. “I can’t believe you want me to lie to your mother.” Her eyes dart in the vague direction of my face before looking away, which only makes me grin since she still hasn’t looked me in the eye since opening the door.
“It’s a white lie.”
“White lies are small, this is kind of a bigger deal.”
I sigh. “Look, it’s just-”
“We’re not actually married, Austin.”
I grin. “You know, you keep saying that, but I’ve got a little piece of paper from the State of Nevada that says-”
“Ugh,” she groans. “You know what I mean.” And this time her eyes do meet mine.
“We’re not in love or anything.”
I stick my bottom lip out and make the sad puppy eyes at her. “Aww, you sure you don’t lurrrrv me?” I say, drawing out the L-word cartoonishly.
“I’m quite positive.”
I grin. “I mean that kiss a few hours ago sure seemed like lurrrrv to me.”
Natalie’s whole face goes fucking crimson, and her eyes go wide before they narrow at me. “That was- I mean-” She stammers before holding her head up high and regal-like. “Enjoy dinner alone, Austin.”
She starts to shut the door, but I jam my foot in it. “Okay, okay, lighten up.”
Her eyes are still glaring at me, and her face is still stewing this adorable pink color. But she eases up on the door.
“Look, please come to dinner with me at my mom’s house.” I flash her a grin. “I’d totally do the same for you.”
Natalie barks out a laugh. “Yeah, you’ve never met Loraine.”
“Should I?”
She raises her brow and lets her gaze do a once-over before she drags them back to my face. “No, probably not.”
I laugh. “Hey, moms love me, you know.”
“So I’ve read,” she says curtly as she smiles sweetly at me. “And that is exactly why you won’t be introduced.”
I grin as I rake my nails across my five o’clock shadow. “That tabloid stuff is mostly just rumor and garbage you know.”
“Mostly or entirely?”
“Taking the fifth on that one, princess. So, dinner? My mom really is a sweetheart.”
She sighs heavily before I finally watch that last defense of hers drop from her face.
“Okay, fine. But I’m doing this for your mother, not you.”
“Thanks, dear.”
She rolls her eyes at me. “So what time are we leaving for dinner then?”
I shrug and look down at my watch. “Like, ten minutes?”
Natalie’s jaw drops as her eyes go wide. “Seriously?!”
I frown. “What?”
“You’ve clearly never lived with a woman before, that’s what.”
I snort. “Well, yeah, obviously. Why?”
“Because I’m about to meet my fake husband’s mother for the first time and I need to get ready!”
I make a face. “What’s wrong with that?” I nod at the tank top and jean shorts she’s wearing. “She’s cooking dinner, you know. We’re not going to the opera, Madame Ames.”
Nat gives me a ‘watch it’ look. “I’m going to need at at least thirty minutes.”
I roll my eyes. “Fine, just-”
The door slams in my face.
Welcome to your married life, Austin, I grumble to myself as I head downstairs to grab a beer.
“Oh well now you are just sweet as pie, sugar!”
Natalie doesn’t even have a chance to say anything back before my beaming mom wraps her up in a big bear hug.
“I am so glad you found my boy and got him to settle himself down!”
Mom pulls back to beam at Natalie, her rosy, dimpled cheeks and the smile lines around her eyes pulled tight with her delight. I’m always amazed that my mom even knows how to smile with the shit we put up with growing up with Dad.
“Oh now, Mrs. Taylor,” Natalie’s voice adapts a “folky” tone similar to my mom’s, and she cocks a hip to the side in this casual way I’ve never actually seen her stand. “I think Austin is the one that found me, actually!”