Chapter 3

 

 

“Mrs. Williams,” Reed said with a smile. “You’ve been very helpful on the dating challenge.”

“It’s been my pleasure,” she said. “And please, call me Lisa.”

Kate’s mother looked much like her daughter in features, and they shared the same striking green eyes. Lisa’s hair was blonde, suggesting Kate had gotten her brown from her father. The roots showed a hint of grey but the rest appeared to have been dyed.

“Your daughter has your beauty,” he said. “And your eyes.”

The woman laughed lightly. “Kate said you were handsome, but the pictures on Ember’s blog don’t do you justice.”

“Kate said that?” he asked, glancing her way.

“I admit nothing,” Kate said, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

“I’m glad to see you two together,” Lisa said. “After everything, I admit I was worried. I’m sorry for everything you went through, by the way.”

“Kate was kind enough to forgive our breakup,” Reed said, raising a hand to forestall Kate’s interruption.

“But you weren’t dating,” Lisa said.

“Exactly,” Reed replied.

Lisa laughed again. “How is your current date going?”

“Badly,” Reed lamented. “But I think that’s how it’s supposed to go.”

“We’re revisiting all our bad dates,” Kate said, leaning into the frame. “Remember?”

“We’ve all had our share,” Lisa said. “I once had a guy try to grope me—at church.”

“Really?” Reed asked, aghast.

“Mom!” Kate exclaimed, and shuddered. “That’s not the type of thing I want to hear.”

“What?” Lisa protested. “It’s not like I’m showing him pictures of you naked in the tub or anything. I have them, by the way . . .”

“Mom!” Kate said, flushing. “You’re not supposed to make this an actual bad date.”

“Kid pictures would be great,” Reed said brightly, and Kate cast him a scathing look.

Lisa smiled and motioned to him. “Your mother has already sent me plenty from when you were a child. They’re simply adorable.”

“What?” he asked, caught off guard. “You’ve talked to my mom?”

“Kate didn’t tell you?” Lisa asked innocently. “She gave me your mom’s number and we’ve become good friends over the last few weeks. Do tell her I said hello.”

Reed looked to Kate but she was fighting not to laugh, her hand clamped over her mouth in an attempt to keep the amusement from bursting free. Reed glared at her and then returned his attention to the screen.

“Can you include pictures of the guys Kate has dated?” he asked. “And their nicknames?”

“I think that’s enough,” Kate said with a strangled sound. “We do have a movie to get to.”

She tried to grab the iPad but Lisa called out, “Wait, there is one more thing I wanted to ask.”

“Is it going to embarrass me?” Kate asked warily.

“Not everything is about you,” Lisa said. “I found out yesterday that Bake’s deployment ends the week after Thanksgiving, so we’re doing our holiday in early December. Tyler and Orin will be there as well. Think you can you make it?”

“Let me know the dates and I will,” she said.

“What about you, Reed?” Lisa turned her gaze to him. “Would you like to join us for Thanksgiving?”

“Mom,” Kate said, exasperated. “Can you let me do the inviting?”

“At the rate you’re going, I’d be lucky to meet him in the next decade. Reed?”

“Your daughter has proven herself to be quite bold,” Reed said. “If she invites me to your family holiday, I’ll see what I can do.”

“Kate?” Lisa asked.

“Goodbye, mother,” Kate said.

“But I haven’t—”

Kate ended the call and sighed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know she was going to ask that. Sometimes she can be manipulative.”

“I think that’s a mother’s prerogative,” he said.

“We don’t want to be late to the movie,” she said.

Obviously unsettled by the conversation, she checked the time and stashed the tablet in its case. Then they left the car and walked to the theatre. After purchasing tickets for an animated film, they grabbed popcorn and slushies and found seats in the center of the theatre. The movie had been out for a few months and the theatre was empty.

“I really am sorry,” she finally said.

“Because of the invite?” he asked. “Do you not want me to come?”

“I do,” she said hastily. “But I think she planned that to make you feel like you had to say yes.”

“What if I want to meet your family?”

“Would you?” she asked.

“Why not?” he asked. “I’d like to meet your brothers.”

“Are you saying you want to go to Arizona with me?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “I haven’t been invited yet.” He smiled and grabbed the popcorn.

“Would you like to come home with me for Thanksgiving?” she asked.

“I thought you’d never ask,” he said.

She laughed and threw a piece of popcorn at him. He protested and threw one back, but before the war could escalate a woman and her young son entered and found seats. Reed and Kate exchanged a look and by unspoken accord called it a tie. A moment later the previews began.

Although the conversation had lightened, Reed sensed a shift. Even if the invite had been coerced by Lisa, spending a holiday with a girlfriend implied a seriousness to their relationship that went beyond dating. As if realizing the same thing, Kate was quiet for the first half of the movie.

“It’s your turn,” he finally whispered.

“For what?”

“Another story of a bad date,” he murmured.

She took a sip of her drink and smiled. “I had a guy take me to a horror movie at a nasty old theatre.”

“Do you like horror movies?”

“Hate ’em,” she said. “I covered my eyes most of the time and then afterward he wanted to comfort me in the back seat.”

“Sounds like a real winner,” he said.

“The worst part? He ‘forgot’ his wallet, so I had to pay.”

“You paid for a terrible date?”

“I didn’t feel like I had a choice.”

He was already holding her hand so he squeezed it. “That’s terrible.”

“It wasn’t all bad,” she whispered. “We had seafood for dinner—which I also had to pay for—and I got sick. That and the movie made me throw up in his car. Only time I’ve ever been grateful for vomit.”

He smothered a laugh and glanced at the woman with her son, who appeared annoyed. As they enjoyed the movie, he wracked his brain for how he could top such a terrible date. Before he could, the woman glanced his way again.

“I think we’re annoying our friends,” he whispered, using his chin to point to them.

“We can suspend the game until the end of the movie,” she said. “It will give you time to come up with ideas.”

“I don’t need the time,” he protested.

She smiled. “I think you do.”

The woman cast them another annoyed look and they shared a grin. Reed settled in to enjoy the rest of the movie. Although the theatre was the cheap kind that showed movies months after they’d come out, it was mostly clean and the seats were moderately comfortable.

When the credits rolled he leaned over to her. “I enjoyed the movie.”

“Not too childish?” she asked.

“No,” he replied, leaning over to kiss her. “I enjoyed it.”

“Liar,” she said, rising to her feet.

“You don’t believe me?” he asked. “I really liked the first one. It’s my favorite Disney movie.”

“Plus they have powers.”

“Always a bonus,” he said with a smile.

They dropped their trash and left the theatre behind. As had already become a habit, he reached out and took her hand, pleased that it still sent a thrill into his chest. She glanced his way and their eyes met, her smile turning soft.

“As much as I loved the popcorn,” he said, “I hope dessert is in our future.”

“Oh it is,” she said, and her smile turned mischievous. “But I don’t think you’re going to like it . . .”