Page 14 of Homebody (The Long Road Home #21)

Chapter Thirteen

“ I ’m leaving,” Dean called in the general direction of the kitchen and reached for the doorknob, hoping for an easy egress.

“Wait! Where are you going?” his mother asked as she appeared in the hallway.

He dropped his hold on the knob and turned to fully face her. He could hope for a quick conversation but he wasn’t going to count on it. “I told you. I have a date.”

“I know that. But where are you taking her?” she asked, looking more excited than she should at the prospect of his date.

No doubt she wanted to know where he’d be so she could have her network of spies report back to her all the details.

Ha! Nope. Not gonna happen.

“I’m not sure yet,” he said with the casual lift of one shoulder. “I’m going to let her decide.”

It wasn’t even a lie. He happily realized that little fact as he pivoted to reach for the knob again.

He’d compiled an assortment of places he’d researched online. Checking out the food selection on the posted menus and the atmosphere. And more important details, such as if reservations were required. He’d present the options to Tessa and let her choose.

And every restaurant was someplace far enough away gossip reports of their date would most likely not filter back here.

It was no coincidence none of the choices were in Mudville. He knew better than to try to take a date out anywhere around here. Even going forty minutes away wasn’t a guarantee. The possibility existed, though less of one, that he’d run into someone they knew.

But even worse than being on a date while under the scrutiny of people who’d known him since he was born, was the chance of running into one of his ex-girlfriends. Here in town that possibility was high. A near certainty. And something to be avoided at all costs.

In particular, he wanted to steer clear of Juniper. She kept texting him. Wanting to get together .

He’d gotten together with her more than once on his visits home over the years. It never worked out well. Sex led to a rekindling of their long dead relationship—at least in her mind. Which led to epic fights as heated as when they’d actually been a couple as teenagers.

Perhaps age and experience had taught him something. He knew better now. No sex, no matter how good, was worth that kind of drama.

A thought hit him. If he wanted to send Juniper a clear message, he should be making sure she saw him out with Tessa. Yet here he was, going out of his way to avoid an encounter. Maybe his motivation for dating Tessa wasn’t as simple as he’d thought…

“Okay, sweetie. Have fun,” his mother said, interrupting his thoughts.

She’d spoken in a sing-song tone that captured his complete attention and had his brows drawing low in a frown.

It wasn’t what his mother been asking—where he was going—that stopped him in his tracks. It was what she hadn’t asked— whom he was going out with.

He’d purposefully never supplied the name of his date…and she’d never asked for a name.

Why not? That wasn’t like her at all.

Even stranger was that instead of sounding frustrated that she didn’t know where he was going or whom with, instead of hinting around for more information or outright asking him, she seemed absolutely gleeful as she sent him off on his date.

He turned back to face her as he’d realized that critical fact and found her smiling.

Something was definitely up, but Tessa was waiting for him to pick her up at her place and he had no intention of being late. It was time to leave, before this conversation with his mom got even stranger.

“Will do,” he said in response with confidence he’d be able to manage to have fun with Tessa. But he had to get the hell out of this house first.

“Bye, Dad,” he called in the direction of the living room where his father was watching what sounded like a loud game show filled with buzzers and applause.

“Drive safe!” his father called back.

“I will. Promise.” Dean tried to keep his eye roll from coloring the tone of his called reply. What else could he do besides roll his eyes and shake his head?

Key in hand, he slid behind the wheel of his Mom’s hybrid, a car he’d never choose to drive willingly. Missing his own vehicle back on base, he started the engine and headed toward Tessa’s place on Main Street.

He loved his parents. For loaning him their car for this visit and saving him the money of renting one. For their concern about his safety, as unnecessary as it seemed, but was his father seriously worried about him driving down the street in Mudville?

Did his parents forget what their son had chosen for a career? Did they not realize the ship Dean had spent months on might as well have had a giant target painted on the deck?

If his parents blessedly didn’t comprehend how dangerous his daily life was, Dean wasn’t going to be the one to tell them.

Still, there was no fighting it. It didn’t matter how old he was, he’d always be a kid to his parents. And so he’d promise to drive carefully and make them happy.

At least now he didn’t have a curfew or have to sneak out the window like when he’d been breaking their rules when he’d been a teen. Sneaking out to meet the guys or whatever girl he was dating at the time.

Tonight he could actually stay out past ten without getting grounded. It was nice to know some things had changed with his being an adult.