Libby let her mother hug her but barely returned the affection. She was already livid. Warning bells were ringing loudly in her head.
And sure enough, her mother spun around and motioned for the man speaking to her father to join them. “Libby, this is Javier. I told you about him. He’s new in town. I thought you could take him to that Mexican restaurant on 3rd street that you love. Maybe drive around a bit afterward and give him the lay of the land.”
Libby’s face heated. She was going to kill her mother. The woman was high-handed and frequently overstepped, but this was beyond the pale. She had totally cornered Libby.
Javier looked chagrined. At least he wasn’t as cocky as some of the other men her mother set her up with. “We don’t have to do that. It’s not like I can’t figure out my way around Dallas without help,” he joked.
Maria shook her head and turned toward Libby. “It’s no bother at all. Is it, Libertad?”
For the first time in Libby’s life, she truly wanted to scream at her mother and stomp out of the house. However, there were other people in the room. Not just her father, but an older couple Libby recognized as neighbors from two doors down. Undoubtedly they were Javier’s grandparents.
“You two go. Have fun. You don’t need to hang around here with the rest of us.” Maria practically shoved them toward the door.
Libby hadn’t even had a chance to say hello to her father. When she glanced his direction, he gave her a little wave, his expression indicating he thought this matchup was a great idea.
Before Libby could protest at all, she found herself on the porch with Javier.
Javier tucked the tips of his fingers into his jeans. He chuckled nervously. “You knew nothing about this, did you?”
“No.” She lifted her gaze to him. This was not his fault. “Sorry. My mom…”
“Yeah, I get that. My grandmother is the same way. Always trying to match me up with someone. Look, we don’t have to go out. We could just leave and go our separate ways. None of them will ever know. We can tell them later we didn’t feel the connection.”
Libby sighed. Javier was a nice guy. He didn’t deserve this shitshow. This was not his fault, and he seemed like a good guy. She also knew exactly the sort of hell he might have to face from his grandparents if they didn’t at least go to dinner, and she didn’t want to put that on him.
She took a deep breath and glanced at the door. “We’re here now. We have to eat. Might as well appease them and report back. As friends,” she added.
Javier offered a wan smile. “I don’t mind if you don’t.”
Yeah. He’d definitely catch hell, but he was trying to spare her. Libby led him to her car. “I’ll drive.”
Her hands were shaking as she entered the Honda and started the engine. She didn’t say a word during the three-minute drive to the neighborhood restaurant.
When they were seated, she ordered iced tea and finally met Javier’s gaze.
He ordered a beer. “Do you have a boyfriend?”
“Yes.” This was the first time she’d said that out loud to anyone who knew her mother. “I haven’t told my mother. She wouldn’t approve.”
He nodded. “I get that. My own parents aren’t as particular about who I date, but I’ve come to realize my grandparents are still old school. I think they’re hoping that now that I’m here staying with them for a while they’ll be able to find me a nice woman they approve of.”
Libby smiled. This isn’t so bad. At least Javier understood and was on the same page. “It’s ridiculous, and I hate that I’m scared to tell my parents the truth.”
Javier sighed. “I hear ya. One year, about five years ago, I had a serious girlfriend who was Asian. When my parents told my grandparents, you’d think they had announced that I was in love with a blue alien from another planet.”
Libby laughed. “That’s what I’m worried about. I dated a Mexican once and didn’t even tell them because I knew they would lose their shit.”
Javier chuckled. “Gasp. How could you?” he joked.
Libby relaxed. “What happened with your girlfriend?”
He winced. “I didn’t bring her to Dallas with me for Christmas, and she broke up with me. She was totally right. I should have stayed home with her or faced my grandparents, but I was weak and didn’t feel like rocking the boat.”
Libby cringed. “Yeah, the clock is ticking with Jason, too. In fact, I told him I was going to face my parents tonight. I came to the house ready to lay it all out.”
“And then you found a houseful of people.” He blew out a breath. “I’m so sorry.”
“Not your fault.”
“You seem like a very nice woman. Jason is lucky to have you. For what it’s worth, I think you should confront your parents and stand by your man. After all, your future is not with your mom and dad. You need to spend it with someone you love. Don’t make the mistake I made and let it go on much longer.”
“You’re right.” She sat up straighter and smiled. “Thanks for the pep talk. I needed a kick in the pants.”
Chapter 24
Jason spent most of Saturday pacing his empty living room, worrying about Libby and her conversation with her parents. He knew she was going to their house for dinner at six, and he kept glancing at the clock, wondering when she might call him and stressing over the thought of her facing them alone.
She didn’t have to do that. He would have gone with her. No matter what, he should be at her side. After all, it was on his insistence that she was even confronting them in the first place.
At five-thirty, he decided to join her. She hadn’t invited him, but he figured her decision to go alone was out of embarrassment. He could handle her parents.
