“Good!” I hear Hale’s Mom squeal before she raises her voice for my benefit. “I hope to see you both soon!” I cringe, covering my face with my hands. Is it rude not to answer her? I don’t know the proper etiquette for a situation like this. Thankfully, Hale saves me from having to say anything.
“Mom. You’re embarrassing me. You should go. Now.”
“I’m your parent, honey. It’s my job to embarrass you,” After she chuckles, I hear what sounds like a plastic bag rustling. “Oh, and I also brought you some spare clothes. Just in case you needed them. I know it’s extra muddy in the fields today.”
“Thanks.” Hale’s mumbled response merges with more crinkling, presumably him accepting the bag. “But it’s time for you to leave.” The front door hinges creak. “See you later, Mom. Love you.”
“Love you too, sweetheart. See you soon.”
The door clicks closed, and I exhale in relief as Hale’s footsteps pad back upstairs.
“I’m so sorry about that.” He returns, holding the bag of fresh clothes. “I honestly didn’t think she’d come here.”
“It’s okay,” I reply despite wanting the floor to open up and swallow me.
“Would you mind if we stopped by?” He bites his lip. “We don’t have to stay for dinner, if you don’t want to. Things with my Dad are a little complicated. If Mom’s worried about him, I’d like to check in, and she’s a great cook too.”
“Sure.” I feign a smile, resulting in Hale beaming so hard, it almost erases my nerves. “Although I’m not sure what your mom is going to think of me after this.”
“She’ll love you.”
The room seems to shrink. “But I have nothing to wear.”
He peers into the bag his mom brought him then pulls out a blue flannel shirt. “How about this?”
“That?” I blink at it. “You want me to wear that shirt to meet your parents for the first time?”
“So you do care about making a good impression?” He wiggles his eyebrows.
“Well, I don’t want to make an even worse one.” I rub my temples. “We fucked in their guest house without telling them we were coming here, so I’d like it if they didn’t hate me.”
He shakes the shirt. “It matches your eyes.”
I snatch it from him, cursing myself for not bringing anything else. “I guess it’s…” I wrinkle my nose. “Clean.”
From downstairs, his cell phone starts ringing. “That’s probably work. I better get it.”
Nerves bubble in my stomach as I get dressed and re-gather up all my clothes.
With Hale still downstairs, I fish out my cell phone to quickly FaceTime Delilah. She’s my go-to in situations like this.
“Kady?” she answers on the second ring. “Is everything okay?”
She’s busy in the kitchen, the mixer whirring in the background.
“Are you wearing…” She squints at me. “Plaid?”
“It’s a long story.” I push a strand of hair from my face “We’re at Hale’s family’s fruit farm on a date. There was a sheep stuck in the mud, then?—”
Her eyebrows shoot up so high that they almost disappear in her curls. “A sheep? Like, a real sheep?”
“The details aren’t important.” I wave my hand while pacing back-and-forth. “I’m going to meet Hale’s parents for dinner.”
“His parents?” She abruptly turns off the mixer. “Wow. That’s a big step.”
“It wasn’t supposed to happen.” Groaning, I grip my forehead. “His mom found us in a compromising state.” Embarrassed, I avert my gaze from her. “After that, it was hard for him to say no, but I’m…” I’m talking quicker than usual. “I’m freaking out!”
“Deep breaths, okay? Try to stay calm.” Delilah uses her most soothing voice. “You have nothing to worry about. You’re amazing. They’ll love you.”
