ethan & emma: talking with you.

Meet the Parents (Mom Edition)

Emma shifted back and forth. Right foot. Left foot. Right foot.

It was impossible to stand still.

She checked her phone again, even though it had only been twenty seconds since she last glanced down at the screen.

She couldn't help it.

Her mom was on her way from the parking lot, Ethan left his own house a few minutes ago, and Emma had nearly slept through her alarm this morning. She actually set it for thirty minutes before she was supposed to leave, foolishly planning to actually look somewhat presentable this morning, instead of her usual garbage self. But then her alarm went off again and when she looked at the time she realized she'd snoozed her first three alarms and it was now 7:45. 

Emma had leapt out of bed and thrown on jeans and a crop top with barely enough time to wash her face and brush her hair, before her mom texted that she just parked. 

Emma left from the kitchen as she heard her mom opening the front door. 

"Em?" her mom called. 

"Right here," Emma said, pocketing her keys and pulling her ponytail a bit tighter.  

"Ready for breakfast? I'm starving." Her mom was in a blazer and dress pants, her heels making her taller than Emma for once. 

"No, I'm not ready. I can't believe you forced me to do this." 

"It won't be so bad!" Her mom stopped in front of the mirror by Emma's computer and adjusted her lipstick. "You're really that embarrassed of me?" 

"It's not you, Mommy, it's this whole - situation!" Emma gestured between them as if that was enough to explain it. "I don't know, it's awkward! And I only woke up fifteen minutes ago and I'm barely awake right now." 

"Ahh," her mom said. 

"What does that mean?" Emma asked in fake outrage, her hands on her hips. 

"Nothing! Just, you know, you look a bit tired-" 

"Yeah, this is what you're doing to me! You might as well tell me I look like a freaking corpse - I mean, it's probably true, but you still don't have to say it." 

"For Pete's sake, Emma," her mom laughed. "I'm not saying anything. And I won't do anything to embarrass you, I promise. I just want to meet Ethan and get to know him a little better. You can tell me if I'm doing something you don't like and I'll stop." 

"Can we stop this whole situation?" 

"Isn't he already on his way?" her mom asked. 

"Well, yeah, but-" 

"Emma, it'll be fine. Do you have any hairspray? This one piece of hair is refusing to cooperate today." 

Emma heaved a sigh. "Yes. I can get it. But you owe me." 

"I owe you?" her mom laughed again, turning from the mirror to Emma with her eyebrows raised.

"Yeah. I'm gonna think of something embarrassing that you'll have to do for me to make up for this." 

"Whatever you say, sweetie." 

Emma hurried up the stairs and retrieved the hairspray, passing back down the final steps as her phone buzzed in her pocket. 

[7:58 a.m.] Ethan: I'm here

Emma's heart immediately accelerated in her chest. She took a quick breath, walking over and handing her hairspray to her mom. "He's here," Emma murmured.