NANNY FOR MENDES.

Sixty-three

It's Saturday. Shawn and Bear are coming to meet Mom and Julien. And I'm very nervous. It's only 3 PM. Shawn won't be here before 6 or 7. I didn't go to Shawn's this morning. He took the day off and stayed with Bear. I mean, I could've gone to Shawn's today and just come back to my house at dinnertime with Shawn and Bear, but I wanted the morning to be in my house. I needed this morning. I needed to think and prepare myself for today.

Shawn calls me.

"Hey, beautiful."

"Hey, handsome."

"I can't wait to see you. And you didn't come here this morning. I miss you."

"I miss you, too, sexy boyfriend."

"You think I'm sexy, huh?"

"Did you look at yourself in the mirror? You are a masterpiece, Mendes."

He laughs. "If I'm a masterpiece, then what are you?"

"Shawn. You're way better-looking than me."

"No. No way in hell."

"Whatever, Mendes. Whatever. Have you told Bear about tonight?"

"Oh yeah. And he's excited."

"Good."

Mom calls me from downstairs. She needs my help for dinner.

"Shawn, babe. I gotta go."

"Okay. Bye, beautiful."

"Bye, handsome."

I know we sound cheesy, but I don't care. I love him. And he loves me too. Does he? I mean, in the way he treats me, it's love. But he didn't say it out loud. Maybe he isn't ready. In his defense, I love him but didn't say it out loud, too.

I go downstairs to Mom. She's in the kitchen with Julien.

"You mentioned they like Lasagna?"

"Oh yeah. It's their favorite." And Pizza.

"Okay. Good."

"And if you want to cook something from French Cuisine, go ahead. They liked Soupe d'Oignon. Also, Shawn and I ate at La Palette a few times."

"Oh. You ate at La Palette a few times? Just you and him?"

"Yes. Sometimes, with Noah, too."

Oh shit. She's suspicious. Julien and I look at each other. He's smirking. The ass.

Mom gives us her back. I raise my middle finger and mouth "Cul." (asshole)

He laughs hard. Mom turns around. "What's so funny?"

She looks at me. I shrug. "No idea."

And we help with the Lasagna. Also, she made Soupe d'Oignon, Cordon Bleu and salad. Good.

By the time we finish, it's 6:00. What? Where did the afternoon go?

I go upstairs to get my phone from my bedroom. I call Shawn.

"Hey, boyfriend."

"Hey, girlfriend."

"Where are you?"

"I'm at the door."

"Okay, great. I'm waiting. See ya, boyfriend."

"See ya, girlfriend."

I go back downstairs.

"Mom!" I call from the top of the stairs. "He's coming!"

I meet her in the kitchen. She looks at me and frowns.