“That was either ‘Harry Pie Day’ or ‘Happy Friday,’” I say.
Mom chuckles, and she and Paige head off to the two different bathrooms on this floor. I plop on the couch and stare at the frozen image on the TV of a dirty and disheveled group of peoplecompeting in a game set somewhere in the tropics. Of course, they’re watchingSunsets and Sabotage.
I don’t know what Ian is up to tonight, but Paige taking time to be with Mom on a prime date night makes my heart want to jump out of my chest and do a little tap dance on the coffee table. My mom loves having Paige around. It must run in the family.
“Hey there.” Paige emerges from the hallway with a clean face. She puts a hair tie between her teeth and pulls her hair into a bun before securing it with the tie and flopping onto the couch cushion next to mine.
When she smiles at me this time, her face is glowing, and it sucks the breath from my lungs. She looks far too good and is sitting way too close. I eye the bowl on the table. I’m about to go Rafiki on her and rub guac mask across her forehead, her dimpled cheek, her lips—but Mom comes in.
“Oh.” Mom pats her maskless face. “Soft as Jordan’s newborn bottom.”
I grimace. “Thanks, Mom.”
“Just keeping you humble.”
Oh, trust me, Mom. I’m about as low as they come right now.
“What’s all of that?” I ask, pointing to the parade of dresses on the table.
“Oh, it’s just for the Gala. Paige was helping me pick out the best one,” Mom says.
I almost forgot. The Pine Lakes Gala is two weeks away. I usually skip out, but since Ji is helping plan it, she would kill any of us who dared not to show up. I make a mental note to get a new dress shirt to replace the ones I’ve burned.
“I thought you weren’t going this year?” I ask Mom.
“Shewasn’tgoing this year,” Paige begins, looking far too happy.
I raise an eyebrow at Paige. “I sense abut…”
Paige nods her head dramatically and waggles her eyebrows. “Butnow, she has a date.”
“Oh hush, you.” Mom throws Paige a dirty look.
“What? Mom?” I pop to my feet. Never in the history of my teenage or adult life has Mom so much as hinted at dating. “Are you serious?”
“Oh, sit down,” she says.
“Mom, who is it?” I prod.
“No one,” Mom insists.
At the same time, Paige says, “Tell Jordan where you met him.”
“Paige!” Mom mock-glares at Paige, who starts giggling.
“Paige gets to know, but I don’t? I’m yourson.”
Mom blows out a breath. “I just...”
She closes her mouth, and then the strangest thing happens—she blushes. I don’t know this man, but I want to meet him. I want to meet the man who can dothatto my mom.My mom met somebody.I can’t believe this.
“His name is Dan. I met him at…” Mom hesitates. “A water-aerobics class.”
I throw my head back and laugh, totally vindicated after all her complaining. “What? Oh, Mom. This is too good. Did I tell you, or did I tell you?”
Mom bypasses me and sits on the couch.
“You better believe I will be at that Gala just to meet him.” I resume my spot on the couch, settling between Mom and Paige. “So, do you guys swim next to each other in class, wink over your water weights?”
