She lets us in, her eyes never leaving me. I feel bared, buck naked in front of this woman, when I’m wearing my warmest sweater and winter coat.
“Ah.” She nods, still eyeing me. She glances at her son. “I see.”
Tyler shifts nervously. “Mira’s my girlfriend I’ve been telling you about. We went to school together in Tahoe and recently reconnected. Remember? She’s the girl I tutored my junior and senior year.”
Madeline Morgan’s eyes shift in recognition and she nods. “Well, that explains it.” She smiles brightly and gives me a warm hug. “Welcome, Mira. Nice to finally meet you.”
I look at Tyler, and he shrugs, shaking his head, as if I shouldn’t worry about his mother’s strange comment.
“So, how did you two run into each other again?” Mrs. Morgan asks as she leads us to her backyard, where Cali and Jaeger are bundled up and drinking beers on the back patio. There’s no snowfall yet, and Mrs. Morgan still has a badminton net set up.
Tyler rubs his jaw. “Yeah, well, you see, Mira was in a bad situation. She’s been crashing in Cali’s room.”
His mom aims an intense look at him. “And where is Cali living?”
Tyler stares like a deer caught in the headlights. “With Jaeg?”
His mother’s mouth twists. “Hmm, seems my daughter has some explaining to do. I don’t like this, Tyler. This living together before you’re married. You know what that leads to?”
She’s not going to bring up sex, is she?
I glance desperately at Tyler, but he’s staring at his mom, a smirk crossing his face. “Cozy living quarters?”
His mom frowns. “Nice one, son.” She shakes her head, exasperated. “Babies. That’s what it leads to.” She points a finger at the two of us. “Keep that in mind the next time you get cozy.”
I cover my face with my hands. Most embarrassing moment ever.
Here I am, meeting Tyler’s mom for the first time, as his girlfriend, something I’ve only dreamt of, and it’s like I’m sixteen again, getting caught sleeping with my high school crush.
A choking sound erupts from my throat, and I realize I’m laughing. A bit hysterically, to be exact.
Tyler wraps his arms around my shoulders, chuckling in my ear. “She’s always like this. You’ll get used to it.”
I look up and smile. His gaze falters at the loving look I level at him, and he kisses me.
“Babies,” his mom calls from her place in front of the barbecue.
I hide my burning face in his chest.
“Hmm,” Tyler says. “I wouldn’t mind seeing you with my baby in your belly.” I look up, my eyes wide. His lips graze my ear. “When we’re ready. But we’ll be married by then.”
I squeeze him around the waist and kiss his lips clumsily, which he doesn’t seem to mind as his arms tighten around me.
“Enough PDA, Tyler,” Cali calls. “Get over here so I can slam your shuttlecock into next year.”
Jaeger rolls his eyes beside her. “Babe, you need to tone down the shit-talking.”
“What?” she says. “That’s how we do it.”
“I know, but—” He leans forward. “You know how you are with balls.”
A devilish look crosses her face. “This is a shuttlecock. But how am I with balls, Jaeger?”
He grins, tugging her chair closer to his. “Bad girl.”
Cali smiles at her boyfriend, then peers up at us. “Bring it, Tyler. I’m ready for ya.”
Tyler huffs out a pained sigh. “Give me a moment to whoop my sister’s ass. Should take me two, maybe three minutes.”
