She rolls her eyes. “Wait a second. I thought you were supposed to play for me.”
“I can’t play and hold you, can I?”
“I guess not.”
“Nope. And I want to hold you.”
She sighs, her eyes burning into mine, and I have to kiss her. I drop my head, pressing my lips to hers as we sway and Evan sings. I kinda feel bad that he has to watch me make out and be so in love, but I don’t know why. I know he’s happy for me, and I know he wants the same thing. I just found mine first. I pull away, only enough for us to catch our breath as Evan finishes the song.
“Do you want me to keep playing?” he asks, and I shrug as I look down at Angie.
“What do you wanna do?” Her eyes dance with mine, and I know exactly what she’s thinking. The exact opposite of what I want to do. “You wanna see your plants?”
Her grin is unstoppable. “I do!”
I laugh as I hug her close to me. “You’re supposed to want to get in my pants.”
“Oh, I do. After I see the plants.”
“And eat more Gouda?”
Her eyes widen. “There’s more Gouda?”
I roll my eyes playfully as I tuck her into my side. “Come on—”
But before we can even move, I see my mom standing with her hands on her hips and her eyes narrowed right on us. “Oh shit.”
Angie freezes beside me, and my mom looks between us. I’m not sure what the look on her face means. She doesn’t look mad, but she does look intrigued. Or maybe surprised. The silence feels menacing, and I don’t know why she’s here. Angie and I hadn’t discussed telling our parents, and I’m sure when Angie plans to come back to Nashville officially, she’ll want to do it on her terms, not mine. This was supposed to be just us and Evan. I mean, my mom knew where this was going down, but I didn’t expect her to show up. She likes to meet the girls I date, but usually not until I’m ready for her to. I’m stunned, and I honestly don’t know what to do or even think. I look to Evan for help just as he looks at me and then her before he starts for the door.
Wow. Coward.
I look back at my mom, and she’s staring at Angie. Slowly, she shakes her head and says, “Angela Paxton.”
That’s it. That’s all she says.
I don’t know what the hell that means.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Angie
* * *
I guess the saying “All good things must come to an end” is true.
I stand in the middle of a literal fairy garden, getting lost in my own happily ever after, and it’s all ruined by just my name.
Angela Paxton.
I feel Owen tuck me in closer to his side, and while I’m appreciative of my big, strong boyfriend, it’s crazy that he feels he needs to protect me. His mom is a walking angel. She wouldn’t hurt a fly, and really, how has this woman not aged? I used to envy how she always wore the most gorgeous and expensive heels, and even now, this late at night, she’s sporting them. Any other mom would be in her PJs with house slippers, but not Elli Adler. Nope, she’s walking perfection. Her dark auburn hair is up in a high bun, and she wears glasses now. She has on a very vintage-looking dress and is ever so beautiful. If she weren’t looking at me as if she’d seen a ghost, I’d be excited to see her.
But instead, I’m terrified.
Because not only does she look as if she’s seen a ghost, apparently the ghost doesn’t belong with her son.
I look up at Owen, and he’s watching his mom, visibly upset. “What are you doing here, Mom?”
Elli starts for us, shaking her head. “When I saw Angie’s name on the manifest for the plane, I didn’t believe it. I had to see for myself if it was true.”
“Okay, but you could have called,” he says, annoyed. She walks over, and he lets go of me to hug her.
“And miss the chance of getting my hands on this beauty? Please,” she teases, and my heart starts once more. She releases Owen and holds out her arms to me. “Come here, you gorgeous girl, you!”
I hesitate for maybe a second before I wrap my arms around her, hugging her tightly.
“I haven’t seen you in almost two years. How are you?”
She lets me go but holds my face. I smile, but it’s forced because I don’t know what to think. Is this real? Or is she putting on a show for Owen so he doesn’t get upset? “I’m good. Just working a lot.”
“And dating this guy, huh?” she supplies, and I nod, looking up to Owen.
“Yeah. He’s pretty wonderful.”
“Wow. I’m stunned. I didn’t even think you two ran in the same circles.”
“She worked with Evan. That’s how we met up,” Owen says, and I back away, crossing my arms over my chest to hide my breasts from my boyfriend’s mother. “We vibe.”
“Well, yeah. You two always vibed, but you acted as if you hated each other.”
“I wasn’t acting,” I admit, and Owen laughs as Elli smiles at me.
“I was acting because she didn’t like me, and I didn’t like it.”
Elli nods. “I swear, he’d do something, and you’d do it five minutes later,” she says to me. “And then she’d do something, and you had to do it too. I never understood why y’all just didn’t become friends. Or more.”
Owen snakes his arm around my waist, pulling me in once again. “Guess we had some growing up to do.”
I snort. “You still have some growing up to do.” He sticks out his tongue at me, and I grin before looking back at Elli, who is watching us very intently. “I know I don’t loo—”
“Isn’t she beautiful, Mom? Stunning, actually,” Owen says, cutting me off and staring deep into my eyes. “Perfect just the way she is.”
“Boy, you took the words right out of my mouth,” she says, and I swallow hard as I look back at her. “Wow, I am stunned. I was expecting to spend my night stalking someone to see if they were good enough for my boy, and now I don’t have to. I know you, I know your family, and I know for sure you’re more than good enough. I like this match. A lot. Though, Benji might have words.”
I exhale hard. “I know, but I’m happy.”
“Good. That’s all we want,” she says, waving me off.
“But I have to admit, I was worried you didn’t approve at first, the way you were looking at me.”
“She was shocked,” Owen says before his mom can say anything. “Probably didn’t believe I could get you to be mine.”
Elli flashes me a grin. “I thought I was dreaming,” she says, and I believe her. How could I not? Her face is so kind, so sweet. “And then I had this moment where I felt guilt since I know your mom wants to see you, and here you are, in the flesh before me.”
It’s as if she stabs me in the chest. Owen must feel me tense, because he barks, “Mom, come on. That’s between her and her mom.”
Elli holds up her palms. “I know, and I don’t mean to upset you. I was being honest.”
“Still, come on,” Owen complains, and I squeeze him extra tight.