Rowdy Boy

I snort. “Sensible my ass. You two were groping each other at lunch and skipping out on classes just to make out in the bathrooms.”

Sam’s eyes widen.

“Yeah, I said it,” I add. “Out. Loud.”

“That was once. Maybe two times,” she retorts.

“Every. Damn. Day,” I say, and Nate grabs her by the waist and nuzzles her.

“I remember …” The way he groans makes me think he gets just as horny from performing as Cole does. Is that a guy thing or what?

“Hey, I don’t mean to be a party pooper, but don’t we have somewhere to be?” Cole suddenly says.

I gasp and check my watch. “Shit!”

I grab his hand and drag him toward the door while simultaneously waving at my friends, hollering, “Sorry! Got to go! Promised Mom I’d meet her after!”

“Talk later. Have fun!” Sam yells while groping Nate.

“You too!” I yell back.

“Thanks!” Melanie calls out, still casually sipping on her drink while waiting for the next band to come up to the stage.

“C’mon,” I say to Cole as we walk back to his car. “Mom’s waiting.”

“Oh boy …” he groans as we sit down and close the doors. “I forgot about it.”

“I know.”

“I don’t like remembering,” he adds.

I snort. “It’ll be fine.” I lean in to press a sweet kiss to his cheeks. “It’ll be over before you know it.”

He raises his brows at me and starts the engine. “Yeah … or I’ll be dead.”

“So … you’re finally here,” Mom says as she opens the door.

I clutch Cole’s arm while all his muscles are tightening. “Hey, Mom, sorry we’re late.”

She arranged a special meetup with the three of us while my dad’s still at work, just so she could personally grill Cole.

“As usual,” she mumbles, but she steps aside anyway. “C’mon in.”

We quickly pass her by, and she scoots in front to escort us to the table. “I made a late-night snack. Hope you don’t mind.”

Of course she did. She wants to persuade him to lower his defenses, and then she’ll go full-on attack mode. It’s what she does, how she won over my dad when they were still teens.

She’s not a woman you mess with.

“Nice, I’m famished,” Cole spits out before he realizes it, and he immediately backtracks. “I mean, thank you, ma’am.”

It’s hard to hold the snorts inside.

He’s probably trying to be the best version of himself so he doesn’t disappoint my mom, but this is hilarious because it’s so not like him.

We sit down at the table, and we all stare at each other without saying a word while Cole keeps staring at the chips, cookies, and cake as if he hasn’t eaten in days.

“You sure look … fantastical,” Mom says, clearing her throat while ogling Cole.

He’s still in his leather outfit, complete with sparkly makeup. “Sorry, I just came off stage. Didn’t have time to get dressed.”

“Ahh …” She nods a little. “Yeah, I read about that. You’re a musician, right?”

“I’m the lead singer and guitarist in our band TRIGGER, yeah. Heard about them?” he asks, sweat dripping down his forehead, which he quickly wipes away.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this tense, this nervous. Not even for an upcoming performance. But my mom is just … my mom.

“I’ve read a few things,” she replies, and she picks up her wineglass and chugs it down before planting it down on the table. “Like you were in a fight over my daughter.”

My eyes widen. “Mom!”

Cole grabs my hand and smiles. “It’s okay.” He turns his gaze back to my mom. “One of my band members betrayed us and hurt Monica in the process. He did some pretty horrible stuff, which ultimately resulted in the fight you probably saw online.” He swallows. “I had to do something to stop him.”

“So do you do this often?” she asks.

“Mom, it was not his fault. Michael was an asshole who was only in it to get high and use girls.”

My mom’s jaw drops. “And you let this boy play with you in your band?”

“I didn’t realize how bad he got until it was too late,” Cole replies, trying to keep his cool. “But he got kicked out. I don’t want that toxic stuff anywhere near us.”

“Good.” She pours herself a new glass. “But you’re dating my daughter now.”

He gulps, and my face turns completely red.

“Well?” Mom pushes.

“I … I …” I mutter, not knowing how to answer.

“Yes,” Cole answers without hesitation. “And I’m not going to stop.”

I look at him and breathe a sigh of relief, but my heart swells to immeasurable proportions knowing that he just told my mom out loud something I could not even admit to myself.

“I know you don’t like me, and you may not approve,” he says, and he squeezes my hand. “But I’m in love with your daughter. And I won’t let anything come between us.”