Fake Friends

11 - We're everywhere.

I'd rushed around all morning, ensuring I'd have an hour or two free for lunch with my parents. Of course, Liv ran late, but I'd planned for that.

After saving her from the valet parking line, I directed her to a spot beside the employee entrance in the back. "Mom and Dad are at the table. I told them you had a work thing to handle, and you were using my office."

"They don't know I'm late?" she asked with so much hope it almost made me laugh.

"Nope. I figured that wouldn't help the situation."

As we left the car and filled the short walk to the dining room with chit chat, it only took Liv a minute to ask about Nate. She glanced around, whispering, "You told him you're not out at work, right?"

"Not yet." I repressed a sigh.

"You live here." She rolled her eyes. "How long do you think you can hide it?"

"Liv, I'm going to tell him. It's just not a first date conversation."

"Don't wait forever."

I nodded, and thankfully, she let it go as we cut through the bustling kitchen. Stopping in front of a set of swinging doors, I turned to her. "This is the dining room. Ready?"

She straightened her dress, but nerves covered her like a second skin as she gave a wobbly, "I guess so."

"Your clothes are fine." I swung the door open, letting her enter first. "Let's do this."

The rosewood floor gleamed as we cut through the section of unoccupied tables toward our parents sitting in the far corner, just as I'd instructed the hostess. With Mom, privacy seemed like the best way to go. Especially when she arrived looking as though she hadn't slept for several days. There was no telling the level of drama she was prepared to unleash.

I never could've guessed that ten minutes later, we'd have ordered lunch not only without incident, but with a full apology from Mom to Liv. It was years in the making, and the fact that she admitted her behavior added to their problems made me think they really had a chance at repairing their relationship.

After taking a moment to dry her eyes, Mom turned to me. "I've always known things were strained between Liv and me, but I thought we were close. So your announcement that I didn't know the most basic things about you broke my heart. I reacted to that and not to what you told us."

Relief rushed over me like a cooling balm on sunburned skin. I hadn't realized how tense waiting for their reaction had made me. I could finally relax.

"Have you always known?" Dad asked.

I inhaled, preparing to say things I'd never said aloud. "Yeah, since I was a kid, but I didn't really understand what it meant at first."

Our waiter returned with our drinks, and I shook my head, hoping my family would stay quiet around my employees. Once we were alone again, I whispered, "I'm not out here, so please be careful of what you say."

Mother shifted closer. "As long as you understand, we don't care. We love you and want you to be happy with whoever you choose. Maybe you'll want to adopt one day?"

Her acceptance and immediate adjustments as to where she might get grandkids left me with my mouth hanging open. Kids weren't something I'd even given much thought. Did I want kids? Should I already know the answer to that?

She held up her hands. "I'm sorry. Don't answer that. There's no pressure."

Dad frowned. "You don't have to keep anything from us, neither of you, and I'm sorry you felt as though you did."

"It's really quite common now. You hear about—" Mom peered around before continuing in a quieter voice. "Your people constantly nowadays."

My eyebrows rose, and I repressed a laugh at her use of your people. "Yep. We're everywhere."

"A man working at the spa is a gay," Mom announced with a tone that suggested this somehow reflected well on her.

Liv choked on her drink and giggled. "Hey, maybe you know him."

I arched a brow at her as Mom brightened at the possibility, causing Liv to laugh even harder. Ignoring my sister, I shook my head at Mom. "I don't think so."

"Oh, well, that's too bad. He's very nice." She sipped from her wine glass.

Two hours later, we said goodbye to our parents as they left with plans to go shopping, and Liv blew out a slow breath. "I can't believe we were together that long, and I don't want to cry."

"It wasn't bad." I shrugged. "Not comfortable exactly, but not uncomfortable."

"It was comfortable adjacent." She grinned, and I chuckled.

"Exactly."

She checked the time on her phone. "I have to get going too. Andre and I have a double date with Laurel tonight, and I'd like to squeeze in a nap first."

"I should get to work, anyway. I'll walk you to your car."

On the way, Liv said, "So, do you have any plans for New Year's Eve tomorrow?"

"Not yet. Why? Are you inviting me or searching for something to do?"

"Inviting you, sort of. Laurel and I do something every year, but we don't have any actual plans yet. I'll be bringing Andre unless he's busy. I'm sure you're welcome too. Maybe you and Nate can come?"

I hummed at her ambiguous invitation. "It's hard to say for sure since I don't know what I'm agreeing to, but that should be fine. I'll call Nate before I get started on work."

Her face brightened. "Awesome! It'll be great! Whatever it is."

Opening the exit door beside her car, a blast of cool air came into the building, making Liv shiver, so I hurried her along. "I'll text you after I speak to him."

"Perfect. See ya!" She raced to her car, and I went to my office to call Nate.

Thanks for reading! 💜