Imaginary Lines (New York Leopards 3)

“Never,” he swore.

“Are you ready to face them?”

He looked thoughtful for a moment. “You know, I have no problem charging straight at a two-hundred-pound player and flying through the air, but facing our mothers is a little more daunting.”

I laughed. “Good thing you have a good teammate.”

He kissed me fiercely. “The best.”

* * *

For the most part, we got away without too much interrogation during dessert, but I was pretty sure that was because someone had made the universal declaration that we were to be left alone. Everyone kept sneaking peaks at us, though, especially the moms.

And everyone definitely stared when we said good night. Abe brushed his lips over mine, I turned bright red, and everyone under fifteen started giggling.

And a few over, too.

As we walked the ten minutes home, Mom couldn’t restrain her dazed remarks. “You’re dating Abe.”

“Yup.” I glanced over at my dad, who hadn’t said much about it, but who grinned widely.

“You.” Mom still sounded floored. “And Abe.” Like she might float away, in fact. “I don’t believe it.”

“Well. It’s happening. Why don’t you believe it?”

She sounded far away. “You and Abe. Oh my God.” Then she snapped out of her daze and her voice intensified. “Are you going to get married?”

“Mom!” I glared at her. I knew this would happen. “No, we’re not.”

“You’re going to get married,” she said dreamily. “Sharon will be so excited.”

“We’re just dating,” I said loudly, like there was the slightest possibility I could drown out her fantasies. “We’re relaxed. Taking it slow.”

“Sharon and I used to talk about this when we were pregnant together and she found out she was having a boy and I was having a girl...”

“Mom!” I danced in front of her and waved frantically. “Stop it! Snap out of it!”

She raised her hands. “Snapped.” But then her face did that melty thing again. “You two look so good together. How did it happen?”

I glanced at her. I didn’t usually talk about my romantic life with my mom, but she looked so happy that it seemed cruel to deny her a few details.

So after we got home, we curled in the living room and I spent an hour talking to her about Abe. Dad graciously disappeared for most of it, but right before I headed to bed, he stopped me and asked in a gruff, almost embarrassed voice. “Are you happy?”

He was sweet. I smiled at him. “I am.”

When I finally said good night and ducked into my bedroom, I was only there ten minutes before I heard a tap on my window.

I spun around. Abe stood outside.

My mouth fell open and I pulled open my window. I tried to whisper fiercely, though I couldn’t work up much indignation, and my lips tugged up. “What are you doing here?”

He grinned. “But soft! What light?”

Now I pushed the screen aside. “But seriously. This is ridiculous.”

He touched my cheek. “Going for four days without you is ridiculous.”

My lips twitched. “You’re not going to fit through my window.”