His mom, Coral, leaned over her dinner plate and gave me a gleaming smile. “What about children? Do you plan on having any?”
My mouth hung open. Wasn’t Zack going to chime in on that one?
He glanced at me and shoveled some more food in his face. Apparently, he wanted an answer.
I pushed noodles around on my plate and shrugged. “Maybe, if I meet the right person.” That was probably what they wanted to hear, anyway. “We could try in five years.”
“Five?” His mom squawked.
“Why five?” Zack licked his lips. Those stupid, supple lips.
I curled my toes and looked at my plate. “Because I’m still at the height of my modeling career and getting pregnant would change my body. I need to make sure we’re financially set for the baby.”
Thebaby.
Notababy.
My hypothetical baby with Zack. I rolled my shoulders, and my jacket stuck to my skin. Was I improvising for the family or actually planning our lives?
Shelby’s mom nodded. “Good business sense. Make money while you can.”
“I guess I would like to be more established,” he said.
With what? The warehouse gig? He already said he didn’t want the band to be a job, so what was his five-year plan?
I would’ve asked, but all I knew was in a few months, Zack and I would break up. Would he still want me to know any of his business? My throat tightened. The one thing he stopped his family from asking about was my finances. Better change the subject altogether.
“Shelby showed me the princess outfit you made,” I said. “It was gorgeous, better than anything we sell at Fancee’s. Did you ever think of being designers?”
“Oh no." Coral waved the thought away. “We only make clothes for special occasions. It’s too time-consuming.”
“Too expensive,” Shelby’s mom added.
I scooted closer to the table. “You could make a decent living off commissions, though. Dance troupes and cosplayers always need something. Custom wedding dresses often need alterations.”
“We could make one, down the road, if you modeled for us.” Coral gave me a wide smile.
“Yes,” May cheered. “I can add flowers.”
I could barely wheeze in acknowledgment. Were they serious? What could I possibly have done to win them over in five minutes when Zack and my own family spent all of high school ignoring my existence? I wasn’t the love of his life. I wasn’t even bridal. Casting agents said I wasn’t elegant enough. Maybe the Turners were desperate to expand. I couldn’t let them reel me into this, no matter how tempting it was to be…worth it.
Zack cleared his throat and held up a fried piece of meat. “What is this? Fish?”
“Yes. Too dry?” Shelby’s mom narrowed her eyes.
I crossed my ankles and forced myself back into the role of a semi-nice girlfriend. “No, it’s delicious.”
“It’s a family recipe. We’ll teach you.” Coral cleared her place setting. “I’ll get you some Tupperware to take it home.”
“Oh, no I don’t need it.”
“You can keep it at your place for Zack,” his aunt said.
“He eats a lot, but he’s a good boy,” Coral called on her way to the kitchen.
“A good man,” I corrected.
Everyone looked at me. I tried to maintain some semblance of cool confidence instead of crumpling into my outfit while Zack’s gaze burned into the side of my face.
