And I did, truly, feel like I had a family with Neil. We belonged together in a way I’d never felt I belonged with anyone. Standing in his strong, protective arms, I felt like I was truly home.
Smiling up at him, I suggested, “How about this... let me get my bags, and I’ll change into something a little less comfortable, but a whole lot more interesting.” My phone vibrated in my pocket. I fished it out, checked the screen, and said apologetically, “Hang on. It’s mom.”
Neil let me go reluctantly.
“Hi mom.” My face burned with shame at the thought that she might know I’d just been saying naughty things to my boyfriend.
“Sophie Anne, you haven’t called me in two weeks,” she scolded.
“I’m sorry.” I rolled my eyes and grimaced as Neil apparently enjoyed my suffering. “I’ve been swamped with—”
“With your book, I know.” She blew an exasperated breath into the receiver. “I hope you didn’t waste all of that check, Miss Big Time. Or maybe your boyfriend can afford a plane ticket?”
I may not have told my mom yet that Neil was insanely rich. I was still warming up to break that news.
Frowning, I asked, “What are you talking about?”
“For Christmas? Remember, last year you promised that if Neil was feeling better, you’d be coming home.”
Oh, she could remember me promising to come home, but she couldn’t remember that she’d already told me the same story about “that bitch” at work three times?
She went on. “And I expect to see him with you. I want to meet this kid.”
Oh yeah. I hadn’t told her that Neil was older than I was, either. I definitely hadn’t told her that he was older than she was.
Helplessly, I looked to Neil, my mind spinning.
“Sophie Ann,” my mother warned, and even though I was an ocean away physically, my emotions were on a total guilt trip.
“Um... yeah. I’m sure we can do that. Let me talk it over with him, first. I’ll give you a call back later, okay?” We hung up, and I met Neil’s amused expression with what I was certain was a sour one. Malicious satisfaction curled through me as I watched him pale at my next words:
“Well, Mr. Elwood, it looks like this year, you’re coming to Christmas with my family.”