Page 18 of Last Date

“At the hospital. He’s working in the ER tonight.” Merrick asked casually, “Where’s Allister?”

I scowled. “How would I know?”

“Now that you two are dating, I thought maybe he’d make an appearance.”

“We aren’t dating, and can you seriously picture him here?” I winced when my mom’s gaze zeroed in on me. I hadn’t mentioned my date yet because I hadn’t wanted her to get too excited ahead of time.

“Who’s Allister?” she asked, brows lifted.

Merrick chuffed. “Haven’t you heard? Our boy Kip here snagged a Valentine’s Day date with Allister Green.”

Gasping, June said, “TheAllister Green? You’re dating Allister, Kip?”

“Is this true, Kip?” Mom looked flustered. “How can this be true if I’ve heard nothing about it?”

Heat stung my face. “We have one date planned. There’s nothing to tell.”

Merrick said slyly, “That’s not the scuttlebutt in town. Rumor has it you two are hot and heavy.”

“What?” I squawked. “We haven’t even gone on a date yet.”

“You know how this town is.” June sighed. “If there’s nothing to gossip about, they make stuff up.”

I cast Merrick an annoyed look. “Please don’t tell anyone else about my date. It’s seriously no big deal.”

“Methinks he doth protest too much.” Merrick shrugged out of his suit jacket, his shoulder rubbing mine as he hung it over the back of the chair.

I scooted my chair away from him to give him more room and earned a scowl. “Nothing personal, but we’re packed in like sardines,” I muttered.

“Sure. I get it.”

Mom leaned forward. “I can’t believe you have a date with Allister and you didn’t even mention it.”

“I planned on telling you. It’s not exactly breaking news.”

“I assumed you’d already told her,” Merrick said.

“I was working up to it.”

Mom looked less bothered now. “Even if you didn’t tell me, I’m so happy you have a date for Valentine’s Day.”

“Are you? Why?”

“Oh, I don’t know. It just seems so romantic.” She smiled at June. “Don’t you think so?”

“Definitely.” June sighed. “When Merrick’s father was younger, he always did something fancy for Valentine’s Day.”

Merrick frowned. “Did he?”

“Yes.” June nodded. ‘Don’t you remember?”

“Seems to me he was always working.” Merrick wrinkled his brow. “He’s retired, but I swear he’s still just as busy.”

June wrinkled her brow, giving her son a chiding look. “Now don’t start, Merrick.”

Merrick grimaced. “I’m not blaming him, if that’s what you think I’m doing. He was Mayor of Pearl Cove, so he had a lot on his plate.”

“Exactly. And he still made time for us.” June lifted her chin. “You always imply he was too busy and that he neglected us. That’s just not true.”