She wasn’t amused. “You can get into any residency program you want, Ron.”
“Hmm.” With that vague, inscrutable murmur, he turned to look out the window again. And she let him get away with it because thoughts of residency programs, quite probably in different states, depressed her a little. That was no way to feel on Thanksgiving.
Ten more miles passed in silence. They passed the town of Conway, about halfway to Russellville. Wondering why he was being so uncharacteristically quiet, she asked curiously, “Are you nervous about meeting my parents?”
He looked at her with lifted brows. “I’ve met your parents before.”
“Well, yes, in passing, with the rest of the study group. But this is a little different.”
“Because it’s only me this time, you mean?”
“Well, that and…you know.”
“Because I’m sleeping with their daughter now?”
She nodded wryly. “I guess that’s what I meant.”
“I wasn’t sure you’d told them that part.”
“I haven’t,” she said quickly, her eyes on the road ahead. “That’s not the sort of thing you tell your parents.”
“But you have told them we’re seeing each other now, haven’t you? As more than study friends, I mean.”
“My parents know we’re very good friends.”
He turned in his seat, shifting his seat belt to let him consider her more fully. “You haven’t told them?”
“Like I said, there are some things they don’t need to know. I tell my mom when we do things—like when we went to the fair and to the Halloween party—so she knows we spend a lot of time together.”
“But they think we’re still just friends.”
“Very good friends,” she said again, a little wary of his tone.
Why did he sound so aggrieved? She would think he’d be relieved that she hadn’t made an issue of their changed relationship. Seemed to her as though that would take some of the pressure off him as far as spending time with her parents. He wouldn’t have to wonder if they were assessing him as a potential son-in-law. That just wasn’t an issue between her and Ron.
He shrugged. “I guess you know best what to say to your folks. You know I’ve never been close to my own, so I don’t tell them much of anything about my life, but I thought it was different with you and your parents. Thought you’d tell them we’re a couple now.”
A couple. Her fingers tightened on the steering wheel. She was sure he hadn’t meant that the way it sounded, but still…
“Yes, well, I don’t tell them everything.”
“So, you don’t want me to make an issue of it?”
She shrugged, keeping her gaze firmly fixed ahead. “You know. Parents worry. They’d probably fret about whether I’m staying focused on my training, whether I’m getting enough rest, that sort of thing.”
“So as far as they’re concerned, we are still just friends.”
“Very good friends.” She didn’t know why she kept stressing that, as though it were a boon to his ego or something, but he didn’
t comment. Only turned his attention out the window again.
They’d passed Morrilton and were almost to Russellville when he spoke again, surprising her with his topic. “My family’s getting together the weekend before Christmas this year. Mom called yesterday to tell me about it. She said it was the only time everyone could get together.”
“So they’re having the family Christmas gathering early.”
“Yeah, by a few days. My sister’s bringing her boys from Florida to see their grandparents—and get their presents, of course. Mom wants everyone to come while Deb’s there.”
It was the first time he’d even mentioned his sister’s name. “Your whole family will be there?”