“You okay?” Grace asks.
“Yeah… just work stuff,” I lie, not wanting to bring up Dad or Ireland or Christmas because I’m afraid Grace will try to talk me into going. To reconcile and be one big happy family again.
My phone suddenly buzzes again, but it’s thankfully not another unwanted message from my dad.
“My mom’s calling,” I murmur.
“I’ll turn down the radio,” Grace replies, twisting the dial on the dash. “Go ahead and take it if you want.”
I hesitate a moment before I answer. “Hey, Mom.”
“Hey, baby!” Mom replies. “Just wanted to check in and see how your trip to Wyoming is going. Has the drive been okay so far?”
“Yeah, it’s been smooth sailing. We’ll be in Rock Springs soon.”
“All right, that’s good to hear. How’s work going?”
“Great! Hoping to get some candid shots tonight to include in the article and there’s going to be a press conference afterwards to announce the bachelor of the year.”
“That sounds like an exciting night,” Mom replies. “That’s going to be that Zander guy, right? You’ve mentioned him before.”
“Uh… yeah,” I stammer. “Yeah, Zander. He’s the bachelor of the year. I’ve been, um, working with him one-on-one a lot for the article. Really good guy.”
I flinch at my words and catch Grace shooting me a surprised look out of my peripherals.
“Oh, I’m sure he’s perfectly fine if he’s getting featured in the magazine,” Mom says dismissively. “Though I imagine all those hockey players are a little rough around the edges since they enjoy such a violent sport.”
A flicker of irritation burns in my chest and my words come out a little more defensively than I mean for them to.
“They’re all really good guys, Mom. Zander’s a huge sweetheart outside of the rink.”
There’s a brief moment of silence before she responds. “Okay… whatever you say, sweetheart.”
Shit, I didn’t mean to snap at her. I’m such an asshole.
“Sorry, Mom. Just got a lot on my mind with the game tonight. How about I call you later? And I’ll text you when we get there.”
“Sure, baby. That sounds good.”
“Love you.”
“I love you, too.”
We say goodbye and I hang up the call, sinking back into my seat with a long sigh.
“So, uhhhhh… what was that?”
I glance over at Grace. “What was what?”
“Your Mom asked about Zander, and you didn’t mention that you and he are together.” She gives me a side-eyed look. “Don’t you tell her everything?”
I did… but for some reason, I can’t bring myself to tell her about him.
“I’ve kind of stopped telling her absolutely everything about my life,” I confess with a shrug. “Especially my dating life. I feel like she’s always disappointed in the men I choose.”
Grace gives me a concerned frown. “Well, that’s not good. You and your mom have always been so close.”
I lick my drying lips before replying, “I mean, we still are… sort of. Maybe not as much as when I was growing up.” My stomach twists with guilt. “I just don’t tell her as much about who I’m dating, that’s all. I’m an adult. She doesn’t need to knoweverything.”
