Mari waved away my apology with a smile. “Go ahead. I’ll enjoy this ridiculously expensive cocktail.”
My mother answered on the first ring. “Hudson, finally. Where are you? We’ve been waiting for twenty minutes.”
“You called me two minutes ago. How has it been twenty?”
“The point is, you’re keeping us waiting.”
“I’m at dinner, Mother.” I worked to keep my voice level. “I wasn’t expecting you until tomorrow.”
“Well, plans change. Your father had some business in the Midwest, so we thought we’d come early and see this operation of yours. We’ll wait for you to return. Don’t rush your dinner.”
Which, of course, meant the exact opposite. I could practically see her checking her watch, calculating exactly how long a reasonable dinner should take.
“I’ll be awhile,” I said, glancing at Mari, who was sipping her cocktail and pretending not to listen. “Why don’t you two go to your hotel, and I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
“You’re telling me that we flew all the way across the country to see you, and you’re going to make us wait until tomorrow?”
“I’m sorry, but this is an important dinner.”
“More important than your parents?”
“Please don’t be this way.” I ran a hand through my hair and sighed. “I will see you two tomorrow morning at seven.” I wasn’t ready to explain Mari to my mother, not over the phone, not before I’d had a chance to tell Mari the truth. “Goodbye, Mother.”
I hung up before she could respond. Shit. I was never going to hear the end of that.
I set my phone down carefully, as if it might explode. “I’m sorry about that.”
“No worries.” Mari’s expression was curious. “Everything okay?”
“Like I said, they arrived early. They’re supposed to be staying at the Peninsula, but they went to my apartment instead. I told them I’d see them tomorrow morning.”
“Do they always just... show up and start making demands?”
“Pretty much, yes.” I took a long sip of my drink, needing the burn of alcohol. “I’m really sorry.”
“You have nothing to apologize for.” There was no judgment in her voice as she placed a hand on mine across the table. “Do you want me to go with you tomorrow?”
The simple gesture of support nearly undid me. Here she was, offering to stand by me, when I’d been planning to confess to betraying her trust.
I chuckled darkly. “You don’t know what you’re offering.”
“I can handle a tough family. It’s sort of in our job description.” Her gaze held mine. “I’ve dealt with more than one monster-in-law.”
“I know, but I… It’s?—”
“Complicated. So you’ve said.”
How could I tell her now, with my parents already in town, with the wedding a week away? If she left—and she would have every right to—the wedding would be compromised, my parents would witness my failure, and the Modern Wedding opportunity would evaporate.
Just get through the wedding, a voice whispered in my head.Tell her after. Make it right then.
“I appreciate the offer, but it’s probably best I meet them alone tomorrow. That way I can gauge what sort of mood they’re in,” I said finally, hating myself for the cowardice.
“Okay. But I’ll be ready to support you if you need me to.”
Our food arrived, thankfully pausing the conversation. As we ate, Mari regaled me with stories about Lia’s bachelorette weekend, and I tried to relax, but couldn’t. I was an awful person. I didn’t deserve to be sitting across from such a wonderful woman. Being with her was easy in a way few things in my life had ever been, and I’d betrayed her.
It wasn’t until dessert that she circled back to what I’d said earlier.
