“Have you ever fucked Edward?”
My eyes widen in surprise. I’ve never asked because I didn’t want to force her to lie to me.
“What on earth?” Lara splutters. “Why would you ask me that?”
“It’s a yes or no question, Lars,” Beth states.
Lara waves her hand around in the air. “Don’t be ridiculous. Oh, look, there’s Charlie.” She stands. “Back in a minute.” She takes off and nearly runs to the other side of the restaurant to get away from us.
Beth and I stare at each other.
“She’s totally fucking him,” Beth says.
I sip my drink. “Yep. I know.”
* * *
The car slows to a stop, and I peer in at the house through the window.
I’m here to meet Spencer’s family, and I’m nervous as all hell.
Family meetings haven’t gone that well for us so far.
Spencer opens my door and practically drags me from my seat. “I’m nervous,” I admit in a rush.
“Don’t be nervous, they’ll love you.” He takes me by the hand, leading me towards the house.
“What if they don’t?”
“Then we’ll be even.”
Oh, God.
The house is nice, neat, and of average size, sitting out in the countryside. I smile as I look around at the neighbourhood. I get a vision of Spencer, Seb, and Julian hanging around here riding their bikes as kids, and I smile.
“Hello!” Spencer calls as he opens the front door. The smells of something amazing cooking wafts through the house.
“Hey!” I hear a woman call from another room before she rushes in. “Spence.”
I clasp my hands nervously in front of me when she comes into view. She’s attractive and in good shape. She has blonde hair that sits just below her shoulders, and blue eyes that shine like Spencer’s. She immediately wraps her arms around me and pulls me close. “Hello, my dear Charlotte.”
“Hi,” I whisper nervously.
She takes my hands in hers, smiles, and looks me up and down. “So, you’re our Spencer’s girlfriend? Beautiful.”
“Thanks.”
She turns her attention to Spencer and kisses his cheek. “Hello, sweetheart.”
“Hi, Mum.” He smiles. “Where’s Dad?”
“Out in the garage.”
He calls his stepfather his dad? I didn’t know this.
Spencer takes off outside, returning only moments later with a big, burly mechanic-looking guy. Spencer presents me like a prized pig.
“And here she is. This is my Charlotte,” he says proudly.