Page 30 of A Fine Line
“You haven’t met her, Winnie. I’m serious she is-”
A steady and robotic tune came from his pockets that turned into obviously loud beeping with a twist of…is that the saved by the bell theme song? Where is he getting these?
Crews eyes widened, the white in them expanding as he reached a slow hand to his pocket and pulled out the device. I leaned a little closer and he turned the phone to me. In bold letter, with a tropical flower emoji next to the contact, said MOM.
“Wow, Craigs mom makes quick work.” I retorted.
“It’s begun.” Crew shuttered before answering, soft and low.
“Hey, mom.”
“YOU HAVE A GIRLFRIEND AND I DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT IT?”
He hadn’t even needed to put the lady on speaker phone, if anyone else was in this parking lot they would’ve heard it too. Actually I think even the people inside could hear it.
“Um, yeah… I know it sounds weird but-”
Her voice lowered on the other end just enough where I could only make our a few words. How dare you, my heart, I would never, bring her, etc.
I listened to Crews attempt at the one sided conversation.
“It’s not what it sounds like…no I’m not doing that…Mom, you don’t understand…I…. Yes, ma’am…okay.”
A moment later he hung up and turned to me.
“You’re coming to family dinner.”
This was my luck. This was just my freaking luck, wasn’t it?
All I wanted was a little recognition, a little praise, and this was what I got? A fake girlfriend who not only regularly ruined my dreams and was an evil wench but also was the one who nearly saw me broken down half an hour before?
“You made a rash decision without even warning me.” I grumbled.
“Yes but to be fair I was telling it to sweet little craig-”
“A man who was way too old to be flirting with you.”
“He wasn’t flirting.”
“He stared at your chest the whole time you talked.”
“You stare at my chest too.” Winnie said it like a cat purring, low and rumbly and my fingers instantly itched to down the AC down.
“I, I don’t. You just, you…” My hand shook as I turned on my indicator, signaling a left turn. I hated how she did this. I hated her meaningless flirting and her smile when she knows it works on me and how she knew I did check her out when I never once should have. I hated that she was a liar. A cheater. A vile, but yes, beautiful woman.
When my cheeks cooled down a little, I turned to shoot a glare at her. “Watch your food carefully tonight.”
Pulling into my mom’s driveway, lined with various vehicles from my siblings and their spouses, my blood pressure spiked. There was a reason I never brought a girl home. A reason why I avoided this kind of thing in general. Bringing someone else here meant attention and not in a good way. It meant loud questions and lack of excuses to get out of them.
The lights inside the house were bright through the open curtains, showcasing glimpses into the dining room with We were looking down the belly of a beast with nothing but a couple tooth picks and some hopeless dreams.
“Here’s the story: we decided to go on a date on a whim, we’re testing the waters, no expectations. We will ‘break up’ in a couple days and I’ll never mention you again-”
“Wow, I am so flattered.” Winnie deadpanned.
“Don’t get attached to my mom, don’t look her in the eye too long either. The quicker we’re in there the quicker we’re out.”
She pulled down the mirror above her, a parking ticket that I kept forgetting to take care of falling out in the process. She tossed it to the side without flinching. “Is this really that big of a deal?”