"Ellie," a woman's voice said, pulling my attention. She was a bit shorter than me, with dark, curly hair that was gracefully graying, with stark streaks running through it. She had the same piercing blue eyes as who I assumed was her son. "How are you?"
She hugged him and he melted into it. It was sort of sweet to see him this way–softer.
"Well, let me meet your guest," she said as she pulled away.
He smiled. "Mom, this is Juniper; Juniper, my mom Clarise."
"Wonderful to meet you, dear," she said, pulling me into a hug.
"You as well," I said.
I saw her eye catch my bracelet and her eyes brightened even further.
"Here, can I get you a drink?"
"White wine would be lovely," I said.
“Is there a kind you like?” his mother asked.
I glanced at Ellery, who was being no help.Thanks a lot.“I don’t have a particular kind I like. Maybe something sweet?”
She gestured to a waiter who was walking around and named some whine that sounded way too fancy for me to drink. She also asked for a sidecar for herself, and Ellery requested a gin and tonic. It was strange to see so much staff in someone’s house, but that seemed to be the norm here.
"So, how did you two meet?" his mother asked.
I didn’t know what to say. I would assume he didn’t tell her we met that night, but any reasonable story escaped me.
“We met at the coffee shop she works at a few months ago." He said easily, as if it were true.
"Oh, you work at a coffee shop?" she asked. "Which one?"
"Beans & More downtown," I said. "But it's temporary."
"Temporary? Are you a student?"
She looked momentarily aghast at our potential age difference, but I shook my head. "No. I plan on running my own business, so I'm just doing that for now."
"Ah," she nodded. "Well you're in good hands. Business is all anyone ever talks about around here." She leaned into me. "It can get boring, so find me or Rachel if you need a break from it."
I laughed. "I'll keep that in mind."
Our drinks arrived and we continued to chat. His mother was kind and amicable. I had no idea how someone like her created someone as arrogant as her son.
Though as we stood here, I saw him smile more than I had in the entire time I knew him. And not those sleazy smirks he usually wore.
Soon Rachel and Samuel, the couple I had spotted when we first got here, joined us. Rachel was even more gorgeous up close. I noticed the giant rock on her hand, as well the bracelet, earrings, and necklace that all complemented each other. All of them were emerald in some way, and had silver accents. After the gift in the car, I wondered if Samuel had bought them all.
He was also nice. Though more keen to stand next to his sociable wife, he cracked a joke every now and then, often at Ellery's expense, which made me laugh every time.
"Dinner is ready," someone said from the other end of the room.
People started heading in that direction. Ellery led me easily, placing his hand on the small of my back. I wasn't expecting him to do it, and shivered a bit at the contact. It seemed any contact between us was destined to remind me of that night.
We stopped to drop our glasses off–Ellery offering to take his mothers, and in turn, everyone else’s, so we were the last in the room.
"Why did you tell her we met months ago?" I asked quietly, as we headed towards the dining room.
"Because I need them to believe we're serious," he said easily. We were leaned in, appearing like two lovers talking to anyone watching.
