Thirty-five and Single

My jaw drops. I would have never agreed to go if I’d understood I would be meeting his parents.

“Who is this?” his mom asks.

I force a smile and hold out a hand. “I’m Olivia.”

She grins, though I can see the appraisal in her eyes. “She’s lovely,” she says to her son before saying to me, “It’s very nice to meet you, Olivia.” She gives her son a look and he shrugs.

Though her words are warm and cordial, I’m left wondering if lovely is a good word in her world.

“You should meet Craig’s father,” she says.

When she turns, keeping my hand in hers, I glare at Craig who only smirks a little.

There’s just something about him that makes me laugh to myself and not rage.

Surrounded by people, his father is not too far away. He’s a distinguished looking man, from where Craig has likely gotten his good looks.

As we get close, his attention doesn’t shift to us, nor is he watching the people around him. I turn to see what or who he’s focused on as the flat line of his mouth turns into disgust.

I spot a blue-haired woman who’s catching the attention of everyone as she walks by, and it’s not because she’s stunning, which she is. She couldn’t be more different than everyone in attendance if she tried.

“He wouldn’t have,” his mother exclaims on a gasp.

At first I thought I misheard her and she’d said she, not he.

“He did,” his father says.

Craig releases me and moves forward. “Brother, you made it.”

Now I understand why I think of Joel every time I see Craig. Where Craig’s hair is a lighter shade of brown, more chocolate than the near black of Joel’s, I can see their similarities around the eyes and mouth. Craig is also clean-shaven where Joel has that sexy scrub.

Craig steps back to introduce me to his brother, which is really unnecessary.

“Olivia, this is my father, Richard, and my brother, Joel, and his date, Calli.”

“Olivia.” His father nods politely, only to glare daggers back at his wayward son.

I, on the other hand, look between Joel and Calli. Her ink is even more pronounced than his, colorfully covering both arms. It’s beautiful actually, and I’m sure there are stories behind each and every work of art.

“Oh, and here’s my brother, Rhett,” Craig says, either ignoring or blissfully ignorant of the growing tension in our little group.

Rhett is hot, in a bad boy who wears a suit sort of way. He too has chestnut-colored hair like Craig. But all the brothers have matching colored eyes and shapes to their mouths, a perfect bow. Rhett looks as though he’s come straight from the office with a tie loose around his collar, but he lacks a suit jacket. His eyes are on Calli before he turns and gives me a swoon worthy grin.

“I’m Rhett,” he says.

“Olivia.” I try to smile, but Joel’s apparent growing anger takes up most of my attention.

I have no idea why he would be mad at me, considering he’s the one with a date. But I know I can’t be mad. We aren’t in a relationship because of me.

A tug on Craig’s arm gets him to look at me.

“Can I use your restroom?” I ask.

I need out of this mess and I’m already thinking of an escape plan. I wonder if Uber is allowed in this neighborhood.

“Sure,” Craig says. “Mom and Dad,” and he nods in their direction.

No one is speaking. His mother appears as though she might faint, and his father looks about ready to have a massive heart attack. I can’t get away fast enough.

He leads me back in the house and to a bathroom fit for a king. No white walls and basic toilet for these people. It’s marble and textured wallpaper that appears more like a display in a high-end hardware store.

I stare into the mirror and want to cry. I don’t fit with these people even more so than Calli. At least she’s beautiful in a celebrity kind of way.

I leave the bathroom, having done nothing, and Craig is waiting for me. His grin is dialed back and there is worry in his eyes.

“I should go,” I say.

“Please don’t. I’m sorry about all that. My family is a bit of a mess right now.”

As earnest as he is, I need to go.

“It’s not my place to be here. If I’d known this was a family event, I wouldn’t have agreed to come.”

Not to mention Joel. I can barely think about the fury on his face, let alone explain it to Craig, because there’s more going on than I’m aware of.

“Yeah, I should have warned you. I’m just used to bringing different dates to every gathering.”

Thank goodness we aren’t dating because that statement wouldn’t have been reassuring.

“I really think I should go.”

He doesn’t take me out the front door. Instead, we walk into a room with tall bookcases filled to the brim and a large desk at one end. Tall windows look out to the patio and it’s a great view of everyone.