Dad rambled on about whoever this guy was, who sounded…well, a lot like my dad in his work ethic and excitement, and yeah, I was wishing I was home, reading.
“So!” Mom interrupted a few minutes later, and I knew I was screwed. “My new friend Marsha? Her son, Damian, just graduated and moved to Atlanta. His family isn’t from here but got transferred while he was in college. She said he’s great, and it sounds like the two of you would have a lot in common. He’s had bad luck dating too.”
Bad luck dating? Try no luck. “Gee, thanks, Mom. Way to make me sound like a loser.”
“You know that’s not what I mean.”
“Mom…Jameson is a big boy. If he’s not dating, it’s because he doesn’t want to.” I appreciated Cherise trying to defend me, but that wasn’t exactly right. I wouldn’t mind dating. I was just shit at it.
“I know, I know, I just…honey…you need to put yourself out there. Give yourself some experiences besides school and your girlfriends. Have fun. Get into trouble. Go out.” With each word I wanted to sink more and more into the chair. This whole not-making-me-sound-like-a-loser thing was getting worse and worse.
“Mom…”
“Please? For me? One date. I just—”
“Brianna, leave the boy alone. No man wants to feel like his mom has to get dates for him. Jameson will get there eventually.” Dad beamed at me as if he’d just saved the day when really what I was thinking was, No, I don’t need Mom to get a date for me. I just need to pay two thousand dollars. Also, “he’ll get there eventually” made it sound like I was a gangly teen and not a twenty-two-year-old man.
I blamed those little truth bombs for what I did next.
“I’m already dating someone!” vomited from my lips with no direction from me. I slapped my hand against my mouth. Shit. Fuck, goddamn it. Why had I said that?
“Wait. What?” Cherise asked.
Wow, thanks, CC.
“Really?” Mom was practically bouncing in her seat.
“Yes…?” I replied, or maybe asked. It was a combination of the two.
Mom giggled—giggled! My mama didn’t usually giggle. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because it’s…new…and we’ve only talked a little. Our first date is this weekend. I didn’t want to get your hopes up, but yeah, there’s a guy. Surprise!”
“Tell us all about him,” Mom begged, and I shook my head.
“Not yet. I want to…” Think, think, think. “Protect it for a little while. I don’t want to rush things, in case it doesn’t work out.” I was such a lying liar who lied.
“Well, I’m excited for you, honey. I can’t wait to hear about him. And if he’s a good guy, it’ll work, because you’re the best.”
I stuffed a scoop of rice in my mouth so I didn’t have to reply.
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
CHAPTER SIX
Will
I’d spent the morning running around Atlanta for Leon.
It was so crazy, because everywhere I went, every office or business, their demeanor changed when I showed my credentials for Crane Entertainment. It felt like I was somebody, and while in certain aspects of my life—namely, my dating life—I’d done a pretty fucking good job, which made me feel good about myself, I’d never felt it when it came to the work I did.
Hell, my own brothers thought I was insane because I wanted to do something other than work in the family construction company with them, which was the main reason our relationship had only deteriorated since our dad passed away, when they took over the business and I still didn’t come on board. But that had never been my thing. I respected the hell out of my father for what he’d built from nothing. He would come home exhausted, working himself to the bone every day of his life to provide for his family, but I wanted… I didn’t want to say anything that would disrespect what my father had done, but yeah, I wanted something different.
Banking sure as shit hadn’t filled that need, but this, this really was.
After finishing the errands, I made my way back to Crane. Leon was standing by his office door, talking to a few employees. He looked up and saw me. “Oh, Will. You’re back. We’re going to look through some new options for this upcoming digital-media venture. Do you want to sit in with us and see what we do?”
Holy shit. Was that even a question? “Yeah. Wow. I’d love that.”
“We’re heading into the conference room,” Tiberius said. I couldn’t remember exactly what his position was, but I knew he and Leon worked closely together.
The group of us went. Tiberius fiddled with the projector, and Amy handed Leon an iPad.
I sat quietly and listened, soaking it all in as they went through the presentation, highlighting things I would have never even thought of, along with pros and cons and viability. Leon did a lot of the talking, and at one point, they joked about him being involved during this step. “I’m a controlling son of a bitch and like my hand in everything. I’m trying to get better about it. My wife’s angry I’m never home, and if you know anything, it’s that you don’t piss off the spouse. She’ll kick my ass.”