“I’m good, Mrs. Nevan,” Callan says. “Thanks, but I’m gonna stay here and keep working.”
“Actually, I should stay too. I only have an hour until I have to get ready for work. Save me a cupcake, and I’ll eat it before I leave.”
“Astrid Ingrid Nevan, did you just turn down cake?” Mom places the back of her hand across her brow in mock dramatic fashion. “I think I need to sit down.”
“You’re ridiculous, and I didn’t turn down cake. I clearly asked you to save me one.”
“Come on, Elsa.” Roni threads her arm through Mom’s. “Let the kids do all the work while we pretend we’re ladies of leisure.”
“Those two are going to be a nightmare,” Callan says when our mothers have gone inside.
“Glad it’s not just my mom with a flair for drama.”
“Speaking of drama, did you get Gwen home okay last night?”
“Yeah, but she was laughing hysterically when I got her into the house, and she woke her gran up. Mara was not pleased. She lives with her gran,” I add by way of explanation.
“Where are her parents?”
“Her mom’s dead, and she’s never known her dad.” I don’t mention Gwen’s mom didn’t even know who the father was.
“Does she have any siblings?”
I shake my head. “She’s an only child, and it’s just her and her gran. She came to live with Mara when she was eight, and we’ve been the best of friends ever since.”
“She’s lucky she has you, especially if she gets in that state a lot.”
“She doesn’t,” I instantly rush to defend her. “She likes a good time, but it’s not often she parties hard. Last night was not the norm.”
He wipes his hands on a towel. “Hey, I’m not judging. You two seem like polar opposites, is all.”
“Which is why we work so well together. I can be a bit serious, and she’ll encourage me to chill, and when she overdoes it, I rein her in. Cheesy as it sounds, she’s the yin to my yang.”
“Her and Scott seem into one another. Are they a thing?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll pry the details from her later. Are you okay to stop by her house and pick her up? I usually drive her to work if our shifts align.”
“Yeah, sure.”
Taking out my phone, I shoot her a message, ensuring she’s up. She can’t afford to miss her shift or be late.
“Thanks so much for your help,” Roni says as I get into the passenger side of Callan’s truck. “I really appreciate you giving up your free time over the weekend to help out.”
“It’s no problem. It was fun.”
Callan snorts. “You have a warped sense of fun, Astrid.”
If both our mothers weren’t standing outside my door, I’d flip him the bird.
“Be nice, Callan,” Roni warns.
“I’m driving Astrid and her friend to work. That’s the very definition of nice,Mother.”
“That is thoughtful,” Mom agrees.
Callan and I exchange a look. I don’t think either mom will have an issue if we announce we’re dating. They’ll probably throw a party and be super embarrassing.
“We need to leave. See you later.” I press the button to close the window, breathing a sigh of relief when Callan pulls out onto the road, leaving the two meddling moms behind.
