Page 53 of Made Better Together

“It’s not like that.” Yet.

“Well, if that’s okay, I love meeting your friends…”

I whip out the phone to text Connor. Fate has struck again.

EDEN: Sooooo…funny story.

14

CONNOR

Fucking hell.

I’d spent most of today with a tumble of excitement spinning in my chest. Thinking, finally, Eden and I will have our moment. Then I got the message about her surprise visitor, disappointment flooding me instead.

But it’s her mom, who lives in California and is only here for forty-eight hours.

Fucking hell.

EDEN: Mom said you should come eat with us? Would you want that?

I want so many things. So many. But none of them are going to happen tonight.

How would it look if I turned down an invite to meet her mom, though? I know the answer: not great. So, in the interest of making a good impression⁠—

CONNOR: Sure. I can call them to say we’ll be three.

EDEN: Thank you. Can’t wait to see you :)

Done. Fine.

I take a deep breath, regrouping. Her mom seems like a badass, same as Eden. I hope the dynamic will be okay with my presence. I’m not quite sure how to play this.

Be nice and polite, it’s not exactly hard. But as I open the door to the restaurant two hours later, my hand wobbles a little from nerves.

And it’s not from the setting. Pisano’s is a family-style Italian restaurant, perfect for the occasion: nice ambiance, solid food, cozy.

Eden had reported while texting earlier this week that it’s not a real hangout spot for Tolliver students; the place is usually filled with families and couples. We should have privacy from her friends and classmates.

Once I step inside, I glance around. Her unmistakable honey hair comes in view, glinting in the light projecting through the restaurant’s windows.

“Can I help you find someone?” the hostess asks when she spies me looking around.

My legs are already moving in her direction. “Found her, thank you.”

While Eden’s back is facing the entranceway, her mom’s able to notice as I approach. It’s pretty hard to miss a six-foot-six guy. She taps Eden, who turns around in her seat.

Those gorgeous eyes flash in recognition, then joy. Joy, at seeing me.

Time stops as our eyes meet for the first time in over two months. Before I even know what’s happening, she’s in my arms, hugging me hello.

“Hi, long time no see,” she whispers in my ear.

I squeeze back, at a loss for words. The feel of her in my arms, her warm body against my chest, the floral smell of her soap—my senses are overloaded until she pulls away.

“Thank you for letting me join you,” I manage to get out once I take my seat.

Her mom is the one to respond. “No, no—I’m the one who crashed your dinner.” She looks at Eden briefly with some kind of message in her eyes, and then turns back to me. “Hi, I’m Maureen.”