“True. Good point.”
“Ugh. I need to text him at least.” There was no way Libby was going to lie about any of this. It wouldn’t help her out at all. She pulled out her phone and texted.
Hey. Shit hit the fan with my mom tonight. I’m back at my place. I didn’t want to come over there angry.
A few moments later, she got a response.
I’m sorry about your mom. Come over anyway. I’ll make you forget.
He added an evil-faced emoji that made her giggle.
One thing was for sure—if she didn’t go over to Jason’s, her mother would have kind of gotten what she wanted. That infuriated Libby even more. She decided to go.
Okay. But we need to talk first. I’ll be there soon.
First before what?
He added yet another evil-faced emoji.
“You’re smiling,” Christa pointed out.
Libby put her phone away. “Yeah. Okay. I guess I’m going over there. Wish me luck.” She shoved off the couch, grabbed her bag, and headed out the door once again.
“Good luck,” Christa called out.
Chapter 16
Jason met Libby at the door, touching her back as she passed under his arm. After closing the door, he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into his arms.
He wanted to look into her eyes and gauge her emotions. The text conversation had been off. He’d have gotten a better bead on her feelings if she’d called.
Cupping her face, he looked into her eyes.
She met his gaze but then dropped her head and set her forehead against his chest. “Ugh. Let me tell you what happened.”
“Okay.” He slid a hand to hers and lured her toward the kitchen. For the first time, he sorely wished he had a sofa. They had two choices—bar stools in the kitchen or his bed. “Can I get you a drink?” he asked as he pulled out a bar stool for her.
She hopped up onto it and sighed. “Water would be great.”
He grabbed a bottle from the fridge and handed it to her before taking the other stool. “Tell me what happened.” He reached for her hand and held it loosely, nerves starting to make his pulse pick up. She was really off.
“Remember that guy I was out with when we ran into each other?”
“Yes. Eddie.” How could he forget? And fuck me, but I don’t like where this is going.
“Well, my mom invited him to her house for dinner.”
Jason’s eyes popped wide. Even though he should have seen this coming, he was still shocked. “And…” Please tell me you left.
She pulled her hand out of his and groaned before setting both hands on her head. “I was caught off-guard. So fucking stunned, I didn’t know what to do.”
“So you told your mom to stop meddling in your life, and you left.” He knew he was wrong, but damn, he wanted to be right.
Her shoulders dropped and she shook her head. “No. I did tell Eddie that I wasn’t the least bit interested in him and never would be. It hardly made him flinch. The man is convinced we would make a perfect couple. It’s like he couldn’t hear a word I said.”
Jason stared at her, trying to process what she was saying. There was no reason to be mad at her. She hadn’t really done anything wrong. Except not stand up to her mother. Which was everything.
He stood, needing to pace and think. And take several breaths.
After a few moments, Libby spoke again. “Oh, and he’s the one who sent the roses.”
Jason spun to face her, fisting his hands at his sides. “Seriously?”
She nodded. Her expression was drawn.
“Jesus,” he muttered.
She drew in a long breath. “Look, I knew you would be mad. I almost didn’t come over. I considered not telling you at all. But I didn’t want there to be any secrets between us. I went to my mom’s. She ambushed me. I told Eddie to take a hike. I left.”
“But you also sat at the table and ate dinner,” he accused.
She lowered her gaze and sighed. “Yes. If you want to call it eating. I stabbed at my food for about fifteen minutes while thinking about how I was going to get out of there.”
A war was taking place in his head. On the one hand, she’d told him exactly what happened. On the other hand, he still thought she was stringing him along. “I’m gonna be honest, Libby. I don’t like this. I don’t like that you’re lying to your parents, and I certainly don’t like that some guy is stalking you.”
She pulled in a breath and slid off the stool. How the woman could make jeans and a fitted white T-shirt look sexy was beyond him, but she always managed to make him take notice. Even now. Even though he was off-kilter and so was she.
She took a step back. “I’m gonna go.”
He jerked. “Go? Why?”
She turned and started shuffling toward the front door, speaking as she walked. “Because I’m stressed, Jason. My evening was shit. I have some fucking guy basically stalking me, and the man I really like is more interested in what my stupid parents think than any other single thing. I want to go home and sleep.”
He jogged toward her to close the distance, wrapping an arm gently around her middle before she reached the door and pulling her back against his chest. He rocked her back and forth and set his lips near her ear. “You’re right. I’m sorry. Don’t go.”
She blew out a breath, but she was stiff in his arms.
He brushed her hair from her neck and kissed her, inhaling her scent while forcing himself not to get carried away. He was at least as nervous as Libby. The last thing he wanted was for her to leave tonight. “I overreacted,” he whispered.
She leaned her head against him. “Jason, you have to let up about my parents. We’ve been
