‘You got sick? How’d you explain that?’
‘I told him it was food poisoning.’ I smile. ‘He was so sweet. He helped me back to his room, then stayed there with me and we talked until I fell asleep.’
‘And he didn’t try anything?’
‘No! Gross! Did you not hear the part about me puking?’
‘I’m just asking. Some guys wouldn’t care.’
‘Jason’s not like that. He felt really bad that I got sick. He kept offering to get me stuff, like water or crackers. He’s going to make a great dad,’ I say, in a dreamy voice as I imagine him with our baby.
‘So when did you have sex?’
‘Right before I left.’ I tell her how we went to the falls andkissed, which sparked what happened later at his apartment. ‘The sex was even better than last time.’
‘Guess I know what you’ll be doing this weekend,’ she says, sounding annoyed with me.
‘We’re not going to do that, not after I tell him my news. I’m worried he’s going to be mad that I’m still planning to move away.’
‘He can move to Boston.’
‘He won’t. Seeing how close he is with his family, I can’t see him ever leaving there. And I get it, because I’m the same way. We both want to be with our families.’
‘When are you going to tell your parents?’
‘Right before they fly home. I want them to be happy at my graduation, not disappointed and sad.’
‘They’re not going to be sad. They’re getting a grandchild.’
‘Who came from a one-night stand,’ I say with a sigh.
‘They don’t need to know how it happened. And it wasn’t a one-night stand. You’re still seeing him.’
‘But for how long? This weekend will probably be it.’
‘Wait.’ She gets up. ‘Didn’t you say your parents are going to Haydon Falls?’
‘Yeah, they’re coming here the week before I graduate to drive around and see the area. Why?’
‘What if they meet Jason?’
‘It’s a small town, but not that small. I doubt they’ll run into him. And if they did, they wouldn’t know who he was. I’m not ready to tell them who the father is. I want to wait until Jason and I have had time to figure out how this is going to work.’
‘You know they won’t accept that, especially your mom. Nooffense but she’s kind of nosy, and persistent. Remember when she kept asking how I got that bruise on my neck?’
‘And you told her you got hit by a tennis ball when it was really a hickey? That was quick thinking. I’m impressed you came up with that so fast.’
‘Can you believe that guy gave me a hickey? Like we’re still in high school?’ Nora goes to the fridge and takes out a bottle of water. ‘I was so pissed. I’m a professor. I can’t be showing up to class with a hickey. This is why I got off the dating apps.’
I get up and meet her in the kitchen. ‘So what’s your point? About Jason?’
‘Oh! Yeah.’ She takes a sip of her water. ‘Why don’t you introduce your parents to Jason?’
‘Why would I do that?’
‘Because your nosy mom is not going to wait months to find out who her grandchild’s father is. If they’re going to be in Haydon Falls, you might as well introduce them.’
‘And what am I supposed to say? This is the guy I had sex with last January, resulting in your grandchild?’
