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For a second, I think I’m staring at two Walker Scotts. They are exactly alike.

“Walker, honey, did you tell your parents I cause trouble?” I try to sound calm even though my voice is curt.

“Actually, I didn’t have to.” He smirks, leaving me with an uncomfortable feeling. He looks at his dad and mom, who both grin proudly.

“Emi, I have a confession to make,” Leslie starts. “I may or may not have pried a tad last time I was in town.”

The chill in my spine goes ice cold, and I brace.

“Turns out, I get my hair done at a salon your girlfriend works at. She wasn’t around, but my hairstylist was more than forthcoming when I mentioned my son was dating a girl named Emerson. Apparently, you’re well known.”

I’m going to kill Rachel. I swallow my drink, avoiding eye contact with Leslie. There is no telling what’s going to come out of her mouth. What are the chances that, out of all the salons in Charleston, she’d end up at Rachel’s?

“Don’t believe everything you hear. Salons are famous for catty gossip.”

“You didn’t get caught drinking underage at a bar in college and flash the officer?”

“My ID was in my bra, total accident,” I explain reasonably. That wasn’t intentional.

“And you didn’t cause a bar brawl?”

“Ummmm…” That remains an argument in my mind, but maybe I shouldn’t share the details.

Walker is openly smirking, watching me as I squirm in my chair.

“What about the time you wrecked your father’s car because—”

“That was an honest mistake. I thought there was a snake in the car.” I shudder at the memory. It was one moment in my life I thought I was going to have a complete heart attack. How was I to know he’d recently bought a new garden hose? A black garden hose closely resembles a snake.

“Exactly how long did you stay at the salon?” I ask meekly, knowing there are probably a dozen more stories she could have heard.

“Did you really win a bikini contest in Myrtle Beach when your friends dared you to enter?” Leslie goes on.

“Well...”

Walker’s enjoyment vanishes at this news, his smirk turning into a frown immediately. “Mom, maybe you should stop now.”

“Oh.” She sounds disappointed. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you, Emi. I think these things are wonderful.”

“You do?” I’m taken aback at her statement. I’d expect moms would warn their sons away from this kind of hassle.

“Yes, absolutely. It means you have spunk. I love spunk.”

Is she drunk? Or maybe it’s me. Did I hear her right?

“I may be a little impulsive,” I admit.

“Thank God. Walker needs that in his life.”

A pleasant warmth spreads through me at her words, and the expression on Walker’s face changes. He’s staring at me with what can only be described as pride and love. He was right; I adore his parents.

“Leslie, maybe we should go and let these two get some sleep,” Travis suggests.

“No, it’s still early. Besides, it’s Walker’s turn. There has to be stories you can tell me about him growing up. I’m dying to know about him as a teenager. Was he intense back then?”

“Maybe it is time for you to go,” Walker says to them.

Leslie rocks back in her chair and gives me a conspiring wink. “I’ll gladly tell you anything you want to know about Walker. He’s one of my favorite things to talk about.”