We need to talk.
Reality landed hard.
Whatever was going on between them, Ash Tailor wasn’t feeling any butterflies. He was finally getting around to regretting her rash action as much as she was. On Tripp’s advice, she’d been willing to play along, but it was probably better to just give him the out he was clearly looking for.
how are we going to get out of this?
We’re not.
Allie frowned at those two words.
we’re not?
Where can we meet?
Allie thought about that. She would have said the diner, but there would be too many people close by, and Maya would be bored there.
how about the park?
Perfect. Meet you there in an hour?
see you then
She placed her phone back down slowly and tried to imagine what this meeting could possibly be about if he wasn’t looking for a quick exit. He probably just wanted to be sure they were on the same page.
Whatever it was, she had to shower and get dressed first. She hurried through her morning routine, dressing warmly for an early morning at the park.
When she got downstairs, she was surprised to find her mom and dad both standing at the counter. They were sipping coffee from the lumpy mugs her mom had made herself.
Mom wasneverinside at this hour.
“Hey,” Allie said, wondering howmuch they knew.
“Good morning, Allie,” her mom said with a loving smile. “Is there anything you’d like to tell us?”
“We’re happy for you, honey,” her dad said quickly. “Aren’t we, Maggie?”
“If you’re happy, we’re happy,” her mom said. “I’m sure he’s very special.”
Relief washed over Allie and she went to her parents. She had expected them to be upset with her, or at least question why she had been so insistent yesterday that she wasn’t going on a date.
Instead, they hugged her tight and she felt like a little girl again, being congratulated on a good report card or for making the softball team.
“We heard he has a little girl,” her dad said, a hopeful note in his voice as they all pulled back from their big hug.
I wish it were real,she thought to herself.I wish I were really about to give him another grandchild.
“Yes,” Allie said. “Her name is Maya. She’s my student, and she’s wonderful.”
“Well, we can’t wait to meet them both,” her mom said fondly.
“You’re not mad at me for not telling you about all this?” Allie heard herself ask them.
“I’m sure you had your reasons,” her dad said. “Besides, any woman with five older brothers probably likes to play her boyfriend card close to her chest.”
Allie laughed. He had a point.
“Bring them over tonight,” Mom said. “Everyone’s coming for dinner, even Cash.”
