Looking to Score(46)

Twenty-five minutes later, we were sitting in the Hilton’s dining room, surrounded by my parents’ luggage. The tables were all covered in white linens with sunshine yellow daffodils in the center. I was beginning to think that maybe Oakley wasn’t going to come after all, and I relaxed a little bit, but then my mother started waving frantically, and all hopes of keeping her from meeting Oakley Davis vanished.

He headed straight for our table and very politely introduced himself to my parents, as though he hadn’t had his tongue all up in my lady business not even twelve hours ago. I could tell that my mom was immediately smitten with him. He was charming, I had to give him that. But my parents liking Oakley was not what I was actually worried about.

“Oakley, it’s so nice to meet you!” my mother said while hugging him in greeting. I noticed how she felt up his muscular back and nearly swatted her away. Down, Momma.

“It’s nice to meet you too,” Oakley said, his voice like honey. “Thanks for the invite to brunch. I’m glad I could make it.” He poked me in the side, then moved to shake my father’s hand. Naturally, Dad did the macho display of power, squeezing Oakley’s palm a little harder than necessary to mark his superiority. I think everyone at the table knew Oakley could take him in a thumb war any day of the week.

“It’s nice to meet you, son,” Dad said through clenched teeth. “You play a nice game of ball.”

Oakley grinned. “Did you play?”

“I was more of a mathlete in school. Made some money on calculated bets, though.” Dad winked, and I forced myself not to roll my eyes.

“Sit, sit!” Mom said, gesturing to the chair between her and me.

Oakley waited until I was in my chair, then made sure to settle right next to me, pressing his leg against mine under the table suggestively. I kicked him away, but he didn’t move. Instead, he slipped something into my hand. I opened my hand under the table and saw the pink fabric from my panties I had left on his chair. Oh. My. Loki.

“What are you going to school for?” Dad asked.

“Business. My mother owns a few flower shops across the country. Gonna help her out once I’ve graduated.”

“Oh, I love flowers,” Mom interrupted. “Roses are my favorite. It’s the ultimate gesture of love,” she added suggestively, waggling her eyebrows. Way to go for overkill, Mom.

“I’ll be sure to have my mother send you a bouquet.” Oakley winked, and just like that, my mother was putty in his hand. Damn, he was good.

“We are just so glad we got to meet you. I follow you on Instagram, you know,” Mom said.

Oh shit. Stop talking, Mom. Oakley grabbed my knee under the table. “Oh?” he replied.

“That photo of you shirtless with the puppy on the beach was really inspiring,” Mom purred, making Dad laugh.

“That was from three years ago…” Oakley looked confused, and I wanted to hide.

“Okay! I’m hungry. Ravenous,” I said with a choked cough. “I want pancakes. Who wants pancakes?”

“I’m pretty hungry too,” Oakley added. “Worked up quite an appetite yesterday.” He let a long suggestive pause fill the space before adding, “At the game, of course.”

After a few minutes of more awkward chitchat, my mom went in for the kill. “So what did the two of you get up to last night?”

“Oh, nothing,” I started to say.

“We went to an after-party to celebrate the win,” Oakley told my mom at the exact same time.

Both of my parents went quiet and looked at me nervously. The tension was thick enough that Oakley looked genuinely concerned and asked, “Did I do something wrong?”

“Amanda, are you partying again?” my dad asked sternly, completely ignoring Oakley’s question.

“No, Dad,” I said. “I mean, yes, I went to a party, but I wasn’t partying.” I tried to clarify.

“Oh honey, after everything we did to give you a fresh start after that unfortunate streaking incident,” my mom said, looking distressed. “Oh Crosby, I knew I shouldn’t have drank last night. Did it make you spiral? I feel so selfish.”

Oakley’s eyes practically bulged out of his head. He looked at me like he was dying to hear more. He was the fucking worst. I really just needed this breakfast to be over, and I did not feel like getting into my past with anybody, let alone Oakley.

“Mom!” I said firmly, my eyes wild. “I’m fine. I went to an after-party to keep an eye on Oakley; it’s my job. I did not drink. I did not do anything stupid.” At least, not anything that anybody other than Oakley knew about.

“We didn’t even stay that long,” Oakley quickly added in a half-hearted attempt to help me out. “We were barely there for an hour.”

“Then why were you out so late?” Dad asked, and my cheeks flamed red. I was not about to tell my parents I left early to fuck my client.

“Pancakes,” Oakley spat out awkwardly. “Where are those damn pancakes?”

We finished our breakfast in an uncomfortable silence, with Oakley staring at me intently the entire time. I was so relieved when the check was paid and it was time to leave. I gave both my mom and dad quick hugs and reassurances that I was doing really well. They then left in a taxi for the airport. Now, I just had to deal with Oakley.