l smiling but turning to her. “We went out to coffee once after an improv class, and when I wasn’t interested in anything more, he proceeded to threaten me.”
“What?” she gasped.
“Yes. He said that he’d make sure that his father would fail me in the course I’m taking at Huntley if I ratted him out. When I wouldn’t go out with him again, he just rolled around in that sinister black car, shadowing me for weeks. I had nightmares. I almost stopped eating. It was horrible.”
“It wasn’t that bad,” Craig muttered. “I only—”
Mrs. Landers came closer, giving him a swat across the shoulder. “Shut up and let her speak, Craig.”
It was a great relief knowing that she was obviously on my side.
“I wanted to thank you for helping me find the love of my life,” I said sweetly. I turned to Mrs. Landers to explain. “See, Craig was parked out in front of the diner where I went to study when I was afraid to be in my apartment alone. His lurking made me too upset to be there unless my neighbor across the hall was home.”
The stabbing glares of death she was shooting at Craig were absolutely comical.
“One night Leif offered to walk me home, and pretend to be my boyfriend so that Craig would leave me alone. Your son didn’t take the hint, so Leif had to pretend a little longer, and now we’re actually together.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I blew him a kiss, knowing that he was listening intently to every word.
“So basically, your son threatened me, harassed me, stalked me, but it all turned out fine in the end. The thing is…” I paused, staring into Craig’s weasley little eyes. “If he comes near either of us, or our homes or workplaces again, I’m pressing charges with the police. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” he muttered through gritted teeth.
His mother gave him another light backhand smack across the arm. “Give me your car keys.”
He fished them out of his pocket meekly, and she snatched them. “No car until you move away. That is, if they’ll still take you.”
Mrs. Landers turned to me. “You haven’t said anything to the school, have you?”
“Oh no. Trust me, I want him to leave town.”
She exhaled loudly. “Thank you . You’ve been more than re asonable about this. I’m so sorry for the trouble he’s caused. Let me assure you, he’s grounded until he leaves.”
“You can’t ground me, mom, I’m—”
Her glare almost crackled in the early evening light, silencing him with one glance.
“Your garden is absolutely lovely,” I said to her, before turning and walking back to the car.
Leif opened the door as I approached, and we got in and left as quickly. “That was brilliant in every possible way. Where to now?” he asked with a giant, satisfied grin.
“How about your place?”
“Sure.”
The drive to Leif’s house was fairly quick, and I giggled at the extra friendly wave the gatekeeper gave me.
As soon as we walked in the front door, Leif asked, “Are you hungry? Or would you like to swim?”
I turned toward him, reaching up to wrap my arms around his neck. He was often the one touching me first, so now it was my turn. He returned my kiss enthusiastically, our mouths opening as we moaned softly together.
“I’m so proud of you,” he finally gasped, picking me up in his arms. “You’re sexy all the time, but something about you putting your foot down was extra spicy.”
He headed for the stairs, and I could barely control my laughter. “Put me down and let me walk.”
“This is ceremonial,” he insisted, striding up the stairs and down the hall to his bedroom. “This is a very big deal.”
“What do you mean?”