“Change it to two,” he said. “I’ve got plans.”
“How is that possible?”
“Very possible. I’m sure Dad told you I’m seeing someone.”
Natalie was absolutely his girlfriend now.
Last night was wonderful. Beautiful. Breathtaking.
Yeah, maybe he was a sap to think that, but it didn’t make it any less true.
“He mentioned it. I thought I could meet her.”
“But you made the reservations for three,” he pointed out.
“Tonight,” his mother said. “We can go to dinner somewhere else.”
“I’ve got plans tonight and tomorrow. You wasted your time coming here as I told you you would.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m here and I can meet this woman that your father says comes from a good family.”
Fuck.
He should have corrected that assumption when he had the chance.
He was laying money down—and he had a lot of it—her family was great. But in his parents’ eyes, a good family meant wealth.
He’d never cared about any of that. Not then, not now. What he felt for her had only grown, intensified tenfold from the days when they were just broke college kids figuring things out.
And thinking he’d ever been a broke college kid was another stupid thought.
He’d never worried about money as Natalie had. Didn’t have student loans either.
Oftentimes he had to remind himself that they came from different worlds. But the worlds were the same when the two of them were together and that was all he cared to focus on.
Not the woman in front of him who already made snap judgments.
Natalie had enough of his family dramatics. Shit,hehad enough of them.
“Tomorrow is out of the question,” he said. “I’m meeting her parents and you’re not invited.”
“That’s rude.”
“So is showing up unannounced. Which is the first offense of the weekend. I’m positive more will build.”
His mother’s perfectly applied peach lips pressed together. She didn’t look her age. Never did.
Years of cosmetic work would keep anyone looking young.
Just more of the competition his parents had going.
Which made the bell ring in his head.
“Did you come here because I just saw Dad and now you’ve got to say you saw me too? To give your opinion of my girlfriend?”
“You’ve brought no one to a family holiday or function before. This has to be serious. I want to meet her and get a feel for her. I worry that she’s looking for a free ride even if her family has the same or more wealth. Some people make their living amassing fortunes through men. Just look at your father.”
“Or you,” he said. “We know you made out well in all your divorces.”
