He laughs. “I’m learning your mother isquite the woman, and someone you shouldn’t mess with lightly.”
My eyes get wide, and I nod. “So you seethe fact that even though I’m an adult and I snuck out to see myhusband,ifmy mother found out, all hell would break loose.”
“I know and I love that you’re willing tobe such a little daredevil for me.”
“Oh sheesh.”
“So what are you doing?” Cole twists hismouth, thinking, like he’s trying to decide whether he’s going to tell me.
“Don’t be like that.” I playfully kickhim under the booth.
“Never.” He looks at me seductively.“There’s a brunch at eleven out at the Vineyard and then cocktails for weddingguests start at four, and pictures start at five.”
“Sounds like your day is planned.”
“Yes, your mother was very thorough.”
“That’s my mom.”
“What about you?”
“I was not invited to brunch. I have ahair and spa appointment at one and I’m supposed to be out at the vineyard byfour. That’s it.”
“Oh no, that’s not even the beginning,Cookie. Then we say I doagainandthenwe get another weddingnight.” Cole entwines my hand, rubbing his thumb over the back of my hand.
“And then we begin our happily everafter.”
I drop Cole off at the hotel, and we makeout in the front seat for a while. It’s about seven thirty when I get home.Kurt is still passed out on the sofa, so I go back and crawl into my bed.
I hear the TV blaring and pull the sheetsoff my head. “What the hell?” I mutter. My alarm clock reads ten thirty. Ugh, Idrag myself out of bed and find Kurt eating licorice and Oreos, watching therest of Star Trek. I pull an energy drink out of the fridge and sit at the endof the sofa.
“Nice hair.” Kurt gives me the nod. Ifeel it and can tell it’s standing up everywhere, but I’m too tired to care.
“You too.” I nod back, looking at hismessy do.
“Thanks.”
“What on earth are you two doing?” Mymother has come in through the back door. Kurt and I turn, just staring at her.I’m on my second Monster. The bag of licorice is gone, and okay, so are the Oreos—there’sonly one left.
“Watching Star Trek, want to watch?” Ishrug.
“No!” My mother raises her hands,exasperated. “Kurt, you have exactly ten minutes to shower, comb your hair andbe in the car, ready to go.” My mother waves her finger at Kurt. Uh-oh, he’sgetting the finger. I look at Kurt and together we mouth ‘bang, bang,’ and thengiggle. “Now Kurt,” she shouts, pointing her finger at the back door.
“Run, Kurt run.” I whisper, stilllaughing. Kurt jumps up, grabbing the last Oreo and runs out the back door.
“And you.” My mother rounds on me.
“What? You told me I didn’t have anythinguntil one.”
“You don’t, but good grief Kate.” Shetakes the energy drink out of my hands.
“Hey, I barely slept a wink. I need thatto function.”
“What you need is to run a brush throughyour hair.”
“Anything else?”
“No, just be ready to go bytwelve-thirty. I’ll be back to pick you up.”
