by Piper Rayne
In order to dodge their questions, I figure I’ll clean up the table, but they follow me.
“So it’s real? Like you’re really happy and trying to stay married to him?” Presley asks.
I want to tell her it’s quiet time now, but instead, I lie. “Yep.”
“I love it. I mean, it’s so romantic.” Lucy swoons.
Presley looks at Lucy. “Romantic?”
Lucy shrugs. “Maybe romantic is the wrong word, but to meet someone and marry them the same night? So impromptu and—”
“So not you,” Presley says to me. She’s not wrong, even if she’s known me for less time than anyone in this house. Well, except for my husband. “That’s why I couldn’t be happier you took a chance and it’s paying off. Love can be scary.” She runs her hand down my arm.
“Girls!” Hank yells at the best time.
We abandon the dishes to join the guys. When we enter the living room, all the guys are in one chair of the pairings and we each sit beside our man. I’m probably going to embarrass myself and get every question wrong.
“Okay, the guys have written down their answers to the questions. Now I’ll ask you ladies how you think they would answer.” Mom acts as if she’s really a game show host. She lives for this stuff. “First question, what is your spouse’s guilty pleasure?”
Luckily she starts with Adam on the far end, so I have a little time to think about it. Lucy answers right, and so does Presley. Each couple high fives and hugs. Then my mom’s eyes are on me.
“Ho Hos.” I squint one eye because he could have been lying to me that night in Vegas.
Logan holds up his card and it says Ho Hos.
“Yay!” I hug him and his arms wrap around me. God, he smells good. I quickly back away.
“Next question, and we’ll start with you, Nikki. How did you know your spouse was the one?” Hank asks this time.
“After the fourth tequila shot?” Adam says sarcastically. I narrow my eyes and he laughs while Lucy hits him in the stomach. “Come on. You can’t get drunk-married in Vegas and expect people not to make fun of it.”
The only thing I’m happy about is that Adam’s teasing gives me time to think of what Logan would say. I have no idea and I’m assuming he doesn’t know either, so I’m just gonna have to guess. “Because he was good-looking?”
Logan holds up his card. “‘Because she trusted me,’” he says, reading his answer.
“Trusted you?” I ask.
Logan shrugs. “I don’t think you’ve told a lot of people about the podcast thing. The fact you felt like you could tell me meant something.”
“Podcast?” Cade asks. “Are you leaving the station? Thank God.”
I roll my eyes. “No. I’m not leaving the radio station.”
“One day she will. When her podcast is successful,” Logan says, squeezing my thigh.
I place my hand on his and mouth, “Thank you.” Who would guess a guy like him could be so sweet?
The questions go on, and although we get all the generic questions right, the other couples beat us on the sentimental stuff. Adam and Lucy win, which is no surprise. They’ve known one another since they were six.
As Logan and I are leaving for the night, my mom says, “Rylan wanted you guys to come to his game next weekend. Are you available?”
“Yeah, we’d love to go,” Logan answers before I can politely decline.
“Great. It’s Saturday.”
Logan’s head falls back. “What time? I’m getting my mom from the airport.”
My head twists in his direction. Did he just say his mom?
“You look like you didn’t know, Nikki,” my mom says.
I force a smile. “Of course I knew. It just slipped my mind. You can meet us there afterward,” I say through gritted teeth to Logan.
I knew nothing about his mom coming. Where is she going to stay? In the house with us? If so, does that mean I can’t sleep in another room? Why didn’t he tell me this earlier?
So many questions and no answers. I suppose it doesn’t matter though, because no matter what, this changes everything. If she stays with us, we’ll have to act like a couple at home too.
Chapter Fourteen
“I’m sick of not having anything to brag about at the retirement home. Do you get what I’m saying?
Logan
The first time I’ve driven myself in Alaska is today, when I’m picking up my mom from the airport in Anchorage. The freedom of being by myself in the SUV is nice, and I use the drive to reflect. I do more of that while I’m waiting for her to come out of the airport. I think about Nikki and what’s happening between us. Every time I feel as if we’re getting closer, she pulls back.
This past week, Iris made us dinner every night, but after our meal, Nikki would usually head upstairs and I’d go get another workout. This isn’t what I’d hoped for when it came to us. I had hopes that we’d grow closer, and if I’m being honest with myself, that she’d fall in love with me. But that doesn’t seem to be happening.
My mom walks out of the airport and I rush out of the vehicle, eager to get out of my own head and feelings. I’m not usually like this, but Nikki’s got a hold on me like no one ever has.
“Hey, Mom,” I say and hug her.
“My baby boy.” She draws back and looks me over. “Too skinny. I can’t wait for you to retire and look like a normal person.”
This is typical of my mom. I’m not sure she likes my career choice, although she’s never told me so. I’m afraid to ask.
“I’m not looking to retire for some time,” I tell her, though we both know that’s not the truth.
“Where’s my daughter-in-law?” she asks, handing me her suitcase. I put it in the back and we both round the SUV, climbing in.
“She’s at her brother’s soccer game.” I buckle my seat belt and shift the vehicle into drive.
“Oh, so I get to meet the entire family already?” Her excitement is bubbling over. This is my mom, Miss Personality. Everyone is her friend.
“I can drop you off at the house.”
“No way, I’m excited to meet everyone.” She crosses her legs and relaxes, staring out the window. “It’s so beautiful here. Have you seen a moose?”
I laugh. “Not yet. A black bear though.”
Her mouth drops open.
“Kidding. But Craig keeps taking me on these trails, and I’m fairly sure I’m gonna be a bear’s meal one day.”
“I’m going to have to talk to Craig. So, how are things going?” She shifts in her seat to face me.
I haven’t told my mom about Nikki’s and my arrangement yet. I haven’t even told Nikki that my mom knows our relationship isn’t close to being real, and that Nikki left me the next morning. “Could be better?”
“Meaning?” she says, tipping her head so she can see my eyes. She’s always said they speak to her more than the words that come out of my mouth.
“I made an arrangement with her.” Why beat around the bush? My mom will figure it out shortly anyway.
“Arrangement?”
“Why are you talking in one-word sentences?”
“Because my son is trying to lie to me. Unsuccessfully, I might add. What did you do?”
I’m driving, so I can still dodge her a little longer, but she’s the only one I trust to tell me if I’m wasting my time with Nikki. Maybe I’m seeing things that aren’t really there. “I asked her to pretend to be happily married so that the press would stay off my back until the fight.”
“Log.” Her tone is one of disapproval. The tone I hate the most when it comes to my mom.
“She wasn’t very receptive to the whole ‘my gut tells me we might have something here’ thing.” I sound like a pathetic lovesick loser.
“And why did she agree to pretend?”
I’m quiet for a moment, but she makes a sound to say she’s waiting on my answer.
“I agreed to get five celebrities to do the podcast she wants to start.”
“Interesting. I thought after Melanie, we agreed that we didn’t want women who liked the idea of your money more than you?”
The last person I want to talk about is Melanie.
“If by us you mean me, yes, but she’s doing me a favor and I’m doing one for her. It has nothing to do with money.” I get off the highway.
“Still. You deserve a woman who wants you for what’s inside.”
“You make it sound like all I have to go on is my personality. I might not be a model, but I’m not that hard on the eyes.”
We stop at a light and she puts her hand on my cheek to turn my face toward her. “Logan, you’re more than easy on the eyes. I mean hello, I’m your mother.”
I laugh. “Nikki doesn’t much care for my career choice.”
Someone honks and I shift my attention back to the road.
“Not many people like to watch their loved ones get beat up. Can’t say I blame her.”
“I think it’s more than that. I think it might be the fame and the… women.” After hearing the story of her dad and how many times she’s accused me of sleeping around, that’s the conclusion I’ve come to. Anyone who has issues with faithfulness in a relationship wouldn’t want to be married to a man who has women throwing themselves at him all the time. She believes no man can withstand sex when it’s offered to them, regardless of who’s doing the offering.
“That makes sense. You have a lot of opportunity,” Mom says.
“Opportunities I rarely take.”
“True.” She’s quiet for a minute. “And what does Vince say about her?”
I pull into the sports complex, park, and sit for a moment. “He’s not happy. You know him. Worried about me preparing for this fight and…”
She rolls her eyes. “Please tell me this isn’t about that bullshit you can’t be with someone and still win a fight?”
“You know last time I was with someone I lost. So if I’m with Nikki at the fight, then—”
She throws her hands in the air. “Then nothing. You know I believe in signs, but that one is superstition and stupidity. You deserve to be happy, Logan.”
“I’m not sure she sees all the great qualities in me that you do.” I chuckle.
“I saw the interview. She seems sweet, and I liked the way she glows when she looks at you.”
“It’s all an act, Mom.” There have been times over the past week when I thought maybe she was feeling something, especially after the dinner at her mom’s, but I must’ve been wrong since she hasn’t spent one night hanging out with me all week.
She opens her door. “I guess we’ll see about that.”
I fly out of the SUV. “What does that mean?”
“You know me, I have a sense about these things. I’ll be able to tell if she’s playing you or not.”
I catch up to my mom. “Her entire family will probably be here, so don’t question her in front of everyone.”
“Oh, give me some credit.” She opens the door of the sports complex and heads in.
I take a deep, cleansing breath, hoping she doesn’t embarrass me.
We walk in and there are parents everywhere. I spot Marla and Hank and I’m about to approach them to introduce them to my mother, but Ethel steps in front of us.
“Logan,” Ethel says and wraps her arms around my waist. “Good to see you.”
“Is this Nikki?” my mom jokes.
Ethel looks at her. “Who are you?”
“Ethel, this is my mom, Pauline. This is Nikki’s grandma, Ethel.”
“Pleasure to meet you,” my mom says. They shake hands.
“And this is my friend, Dori. Her great-granddaughter plays with my grandson, Rylan,” Ethel says of the blue-haired woman who’s always hanging around her.
My mom gushes hellos and can’t stop smiling.
“Did you talk to Logan?” Dori asks Ethel, and I remember what Jed told me at Pump It Up.
“You know what? My mom’s dying to meet Nikki. We should go.” I urge my mom away by placing my hand on the small of her back and ushering her to start walking.
“She’s not here yet.” Dori steps in front of my mom. “Probably getting all done up for you.”
Doubtful.
“We were talking to our community director at the retirement home, and some of us are feeling unsafe around the area,” Ethel says.
“Is there a lot of crime around here?” my mom asks.
“Oh no. Well, I mean, we’re old, so it doesn’t take much,” Dori chimes in.
“Logan could help you with some moves.” My mom looks at me. “Teach them some self-defense tactics.”
“I appreciate you thinking of me, but I can’t be throwing any of you over my shoulder or back. I’m not sure I’m the right person.”
As for Nikki, I’d love to show her a move or two.
“Nonsense. We can’t trust just anyone, and you’re a professional. You’d be doing a great favor to the people of Northern Lights Retirement.” Ethel gives me a look. If I had a grandma, I’d never be able to say no to that look.
“Oh, he’ll do it.” My mom pats my stomach. “Tell these sweet ladies you’ll do it.”
I give my mom a look to tell her to stay out of this, but what choice do I have at this point? These three women will hate me—and I suspect they won’t stop pestering me—if I don’t agree to this. “Sure.”
Dori punches me in the arm. “I knew you’d agree.”
This should be fun. “Can’t wait.”
“I’m going to go call everyone.” Dori walks away but is quickly swallowed up by a group of small kids.
“Those are her great-grandkids. Did you know that I don’t have any great-grandkids yet?” Ethel says to me. “I’m sick of not having anything to brag about at the retirement home. Do you get what I’m saying?” She nudges me with her elbow.
“She wants you and Nikki to have kids, Log,” my mom fills me in as though I can’t figure it out on my own.
“I get what she’s saying,” I say to my mom, annoyed over how this entire conversation is going.
“Don’t worry, I understand you can’t be using all your energy to get Nikki knocked up right now. After the fight, I’ll really start putting the pressure on. Which reminds me, Earl wanted to know if you have a bookie down in Vegas. He wants to make a wager.”
I shake my head as my mom laughs. I say, “Let me get some names for Earl.”
Rylan runs over to our little group. “Coach said you can sit on the bench with us so people don’t bombard you with questions. Want to?”
I look at my mom.
Ethel slides her arm through my mom’s. “See an old woman to the bleachers?”
My mom smiles and nods for me to go ahead with Rylan. “Ethel and I will be in the stands. Good luck.”
“Pass Calista the ball like a good boy,” Ethel says.
I hear Rylan blow out a breath as I follow him toward the field. “My coach was a professional soccer player, and he says he knows what it’s like with the moms and stuff. Plus, he knows Grandma and Dori can be a handful. Figured if you really want to watch my game, you’d need to be on our bench.”
“Oh really?” I bite my lip to stop from grinning. This kid is cute.
Rylan runs onto the field, and his teammate kicks the ball to him and Rylan kicks it in the net. I sit on the bench, loving the up-close look but wishing I could sit next to Nikki. Especially since my mom is over there unsupervised. Who knows what will come out of her mouth?
Chapter Fifteen
“You have no idea the torture you put me through.”
Nikki
Molly and I walk into the sports complex where Rylan plays soccer. We’re a little late because Molly changed her outfit so many times. She’s never been this concerned when going to Rylan’s games, but she hardly ever attends them.
We walk over to the bleacher my entire family has taken over. I have no idea how Rylan handles all of us cheering for him while other players have one or two parents here.
Then again, the Baileys from Lake Starlight are a big group. The only time I see Dori and Ethel not sitting side by side are at these games.
I scan the bleachers for Logan because he said he’d be here after picking up his mom, but there’s no sign of him.
“Sit down guys,” Adam says.
We slide into the bottom bleacher because the game has started and Rylan has the ball.
“Will he just pass it to Calista? She’s wide open,” Mom mumbles to herself.
She’s right, but Rylan is a ball hog and dodges right and left toward the net.
“That’s your grandson?” a woman asks, and I turn to see someone I don’t know sitting with Ethel.
“Yep. And see that girl in the braids? He likes her.”
“Mom,” Hank says.
“What? We all know it. He’s twelve, dear. When you were twelve, you were taking long showers.”
“Can we please not do this here?” Cade asks. “We embarrass the kid enough.”
“Isn’t that the truth. A twelve-year-old’s alone time isn’t something to joke about.” Jed laughs.
Molly says, “I think a thirty-two-year-old’s alone time isn’t something to joke about.” Her gaze flies to Jed and his face turns beet red.
“Is there something we need to know?” Adam asks, patting Jed on the back.
“Rylan’s about to score.” Jed points at the field.
“He’s a good player,” the woman says to Ethel.
I look back at her now that they’ve scored. She has the same crystal-blue eyes as Logan. If his mom is here, that means he must be as well. But where?
“Excuse me,” I say to the woman.
She looks at me, blinks, and shakes her head. “Nikki!” she shouts so loudly, I think everyone in the arena heard her. “I didn’t see you sneak in.” She comes down the bleachers and slides between Molly and me.
“Let me get out of your way,” Molly says, standing and heading toward the other side of the bleachers.
I have no time to process where Molly’s going because Logan’s mom’s arms are around me, swaying us back and forth.
