The Invisibles: Let Me Go Part 16

As the rolling hills of our campus pa.s.ses by, I try not to allow my imagination to veer wild that it's another girl. When I told Rob I wasn't all perfectly pieced together, it was the truth. Seeing my parents' dysfunctional relationship over the years has scared me, more than I think I realize. My insecurity that a man can love a woman and not just use her for a night is not something I had a great example of during my life. So, as hard as it is to push the expectation of him cheating away, I'm trying because there's something with Rob I've never felt before.

"I already have lunch plans. How about I come down tomorrow or this weekend? We can have dinner?" I continue my ignorance to the conversation happening literally twelve inches from my ear. "I know you came all the way out here." There's a long pause and I can hear a woman on the other end of the phone before he switches ears. "Fine." Another pause. "I said, fine. Give me fifteen. Yeah, Imagine Cafe is good."

He ends the call and the phone drops into the cup holder between us. Refusing to allow him to see the hurt quickly building inside of me because he's going to break our lunch date, my eyes fixate out the window. When his hand reaches over and squeezes my thigh, I know for sure, our lunch date is canceled. "It's okay." I give him the out. Although I'm disappointed, we're not even dating. Well, I guess we're dating, secretly, but I haven't had the nerve to ask if we're exclusive yet.

"I'm sorry. It's my mom. She drove up here for an appointment and wants to have lunch before she goes back home." My head whips around, unconsciously trying to figure out if he's lying. If he's tossing the mom card out, I have to know if it's the truth or not.

"Your mom?" I clarify and the corner of his right lip curls up.

"Yeah, my mom." Then the a.s.sumption I made must dawn on him. "Oh, you thought?" He points to his phone and a rush of heat spreads up my neck. "I'd ask you to come with us, but you know, awkward with my mom."

"I'd love to meet her." Then I roll my eyes at my own blubbering talk. "I mean, someday, obviously, not today. That would be crazy, there's-" I stop when Rob's laugh echoes throughout the car.

The Mustang rolls to a stop sign and his hand presses against my cheek urging me to face him. "Come to lunch with us? I'll introduce you as a friend. That way she won't interrogate you."

My stomach twists with the fear of meeting his mom, but as insane as what I'm about to say is, it feels right. "Sure. As long as I'm not intruding."

"I wouldn't have asked if you were." He flips his turn signal on and heads toward the downtown area. "Seriously though, we need to tell her you're just my roommate or friend. She'll smell blood regardless and I'm only saving you by lying to her."

Hmm . . . I wonder how true that is, but I'm not going to fight him. If he came to lunch with one of my parents, I'd tell him the same thing. "Friends," I agree and he winks over at me.

"Only until I get you to my bedroom."

I roll my eyes, silently enjoying his promise.

IMAGINE CAFE IS known for their soda fountains, sandwiches and ice cream. When we enter the small whimsical restaurant, I spot his mom immediately. I don't have to wait for Rob's arm to rise in h.e.l.lo to her, or to see her own smile toward her son. She's the spitting image of him with jet-black hair, pinned up in the back. Those eyes, the clear ocean blues that match his, show only happiness to see him steer toward her.

I stay back a few feet, waiting for her to slide out of the booth and for them to have the welcome hug. His arms wrap around his mom and then she tilts her head when she notices me. Drawing back from Rob, she questions him with her eyes and he nods. It's a silent exchange between the two of them and I already admire their relationship.

Rob steps back, leaving us face to face with one another.

"Mom, this is Paige. Paige, this is my mom." He delegates the introductions and she holds out her hand to me.

I shake the chilled thin hand in my own. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Paige." Anyone around us can see the sheer relief on her face that I'm here with her son. I can practically see the invisible hopes looming inside of her. That I might be able to heal her son and I can't fault her, I'd be the same way.

"You too, Mrs. Winters."

She shoos me with her hand. "Sara, dear. My mother-in-law took that name to her grave." She nervously giggles, eyeing over my shoulder. I swivel around and don't find anyone else besides the other patrons and the staff.

"My mom and my grandma didn't get along," Rob chimes in, stepping aside for me to slide into the booth.

"That's an understatement," Sara deadpans and sits down across from us, scooting all the way to the wall. "Good for Rob's wife one day. I promised myself I wouldn't fight him on anyone he brought home. If she loves him, that's enough for me." She beams a smile over to me and I unconsciously press my back against the booth. I thought things between Rob and I were going warp speed, this woman has me at the altar, probably in her dress.

"Mom."

"Sorry, honey." She pretends to zip her lips and throw away the key. "I have to remind myself baby steps." She places her elbows on the table and rests her chin on her hands, peering over to me.

Her admiring eyes bring the self-conscious side out from me because this woman is viewing me like I'm the saving grace for her son. Although, he's opened a sliver up to me, I know there's a long way to go before I ever have a chance of saving him.

"So, Mom." Rob distracts her from staring at me while his hand slides under the table landing on my thigh. It's comforting to know he's trying to ease this awkward situation. "Why are you here?"

Her eyes flash to his and then she sits back in her seat. "Um . . . let's have lunch and then I'll come over to your place." She's hiding something and Rob doesn't miss it.

"No, let's talk here."

She eyes me again and then begins to have that silent chat with Rob across the table. He squeezes my knee and I reach down, wrapping my own hand with his.

"Go ahead, Mom."

She hems and haws before her eyes glance to the back of the restaurant again. "I came up to talk to the Dean of Business."

"Why?" Rob doesn't get angry for her interference. Instead his vision casts to his mom for answers.

"You know Dean Henders is a good friend of mine. I'm an alumnus of Western." She fills me in with a proud smile. "Ashton and I were in the same dorm our soph.o.m.ore year." She stares out of the window for a moment and I can't help but a.s.sume she's thinking about times gone by.

The waiter comes by and I hadn't skimmed the menu, but I can ramble my usual order. Obviously, Sara's familiar with the restaurant because she hands the young waiter her menu and rattles off what only regulars usually get. Even down to what she doesn't want. "The Cuban. Heavy on the Dijon, no dill pickles. And of course a chocolate shake." She smiles and then casts her sight back on me.

I order a turkey club with their signature ranch spread, I add a strawberry shake. Rob hands his menu to the guy and only says usual.

"Usual?" I question and the waiter smiles, slipping away.

"I may come here way too often." He smirks, tightening his hold on my leg. G.o.d, his touch has me scooting closer to him.

"I've only ever been here a few times." I admire the painted pink unicorns and light blue stars on the ceiling.

"So, your visit with Dean Henders was personal?" Rob asks the question that swam in my brain, but wouldn't dare ask.

"Sort of." Her shoulders rise and fall. Rob stiffens next to me.

"What does that mean?"

They stare long and hard at one another and my eyes ping back and forth like I'm in the middle of a standoff, waiting for someone to draw their gun.

"You know I want you to enroll back in school?"

"I told you on my terms. I haven't decided yet."

"Rob."

"I know, Mom. Just give me more time."

The back and forth finally disperses and Rob excuses himself from the table.

"I'll be back." I watch him disappear down the hallway under the restroom sign. A knot forms in my stomach as I slowly circle back to his mom.

Could this be more awkward? I think not.

"So, Paige. Are you Rob's girlfriend?"

Man, she doesn't beat around the bush.

"Just his roommate . . . and friend."

"Hmm . . . usually friends don't hold hands under the table." She smiles. At least she isn't upset. "It's okay." She glances back to the hallway and then inches across the table. "You seem nice and Rob needs nice in his life."

I stare at her in disbelief because how do I reveal I've been sleeping with her son for weeks now, but have no idea what we actually are.

"You're nervous." She waves her hand. "Don't be. Listen, did he tell you about Carly?" She whispers it and I wonder what she'd do if I said no.

"Yes."

She leans back in the booth, her hand over her heart. "Good," her voice relieved. "He's letting you in. I can't tell you how happy that makes me."

I smile again, unsure how exactly to react to her.

"It's torn Rob apart. So many problems, so must strife, so much heartbreak. It's torn me apart all of these years, watching the boy I raised be so unhappy and blaming himself for Carly's-" She abruptly stops and when she glances to the back again, I figure Rob's on his way back. "Anyway dear, if he's trusted you with Carly, then you're in. Stick with him even if he tries to drive you away." She pats my hand on the table and then unravels her silverware, placing her napkin on her lap as though we were talking about the weather.

Rob slides in next to me, mimicking his mom in the napkin unrolling silverware. "She didn't pester you too much, did she?" He eyes me and I shake my head.

"No, not at all." I give a tight smile and it seems to appease him.

"Good, she can be ruthless sometimes."

She laughs across the table. "Not true, Rob."

"So true, Mother."

Their relationship brings a tinge of jealousy that my mom wouldn't give a second thought about someone helping me with my problems. She would have jumped into Rob's lap, licked his neck and grabbed his crotch.

ROB ESCORTS HIS mom to her car and they quietly talk to one another. I can only a.s.sume it's either about me, or him returning to school. I wish I knew what was holding him back. He's an intelligent guy and with money not being a problem, I'm baffled. My heart becomes more invested in him watching the way he cares for his mom. He opens her door and holds her close into him. Not the short and patting type of back hugs you normally witness between a guy and his mom. Theirs is caring and heartfelt. It's a side of Rob many don't get blessed with seeing. After she releases her son, she finds me on the sidewalk and waves her hand before climbing into her car.

Rob waits for his mom's taillights to fade and then he steps up on the curb and quickly rushes over to me. He swoops his arms around my waist and lifts my feet off the ground. There's always an element of surprise every minute with Rob and I don't yearn for anything different. I may never know which Rob is about to emerge, but I draw safety in the fact he's never the a.s.shole everyone raves about. At least not with me. "I want you," he whispers in my ear and a hot jolt runs through my veins.

"Chrissy's done with cla.s.ses. She'll be home in an hour after the gym." My shoulders slump from the disappointment that there isn't enough time for him to cherish me like I need him to.

"All I have to do is sneak you into my room. As long as you can keep those beautiful lips shut, we're golden." He grabs my hand and practically drags me to the car as though we have an invisible clock above our heads clicking down.

"I'm coming, jeez, you're going to rip my arm off," I joke and my footsteps quicken to meet his. Not that I don't love how eager he is to have me.

He skids to a stop at his car, opening the pa.s.senger door for me. "Let's go." His arm waves into the car, and I purposely stop, pretending to investigate my nails.

"Did I tell you that I broke my nail today?" My stance falls lazy as I concentrate on my fingers.

"Paige," he warns and I purse my lips to keep from smiling. He's way too easy to play with.

"It really hurt." I thrust my hand in front of his face. "See."

He releases a breath, grabs my hand and glances down fast. "I'll get you a Band-aid when we get home."

"Oh, that would be so nice." I continue to delay us because I'm finding great amus.e.m.e.nt in Rob's tapping foot.

"Now get in, baby." He steps to the side of the door, enclosing me further into the small s.p.a.ce between him and the car. He's trying to be nonchalant in his act of urging me to climb into my seat.

"Maybe I should get a manicure." My eyes scan the street for a nail salon. "Is there a place around here? Chrissy's nails are always so nice."

"You're nails are gorgeous."

I examine him and the impatience he's trying to hide makes me giggle inside. I'm honestly surprised he hasn't picked me up and plopped me in the car by now.

"Yeah, but I should get them professionally done. You know, manicure and maybe a pedicure? What do you think? We could do it together?" I widen my eyes at him and his face falls.

"Paige, get in the d.a.m.n car." His voice is all deep, alpha, and demanding. I love it.

"So, that's a no?" I scrunch my eyebrows.

"Yeah, baby, that's a no. I'll paint your nails if you get in the d.a.m.n car." He steps closer to me, and I practically stumble into the car.

"Is that a promise?" I ask, swinging my legs in.

He doesn't answer, the door shuts, and he jogs around the car. He's barely in the car before the key is cranked in the ignition and the car drives away from the curb.

"Are you in a hurry?" I question and he shakes his head, beginning to chuckle.

"Paige, you'll be the one complaining when I only make you come two times instead of four. Just remember you decided to be funny when you're begging me for more."

After his rant, my laughter bursts out and I bend forward. "Your face was so cute. All concerned about my nails."

"Yeah, it was hilarious." He winds the car around the curves and I notice he's winding through neighborhoods for a short cut home.

"I'm holding you to it though; you're painting my nails tonight." I hold my hands up, inspecting how overdue I am for a manicure. I've never been one to have a standing appointment every month, but it's been too long now.

"As long as I can pick the color." He winks as the Mustang slows down in front of a light.

"You could match my panties." His eyes flit over to me and a small smile creases his lips.

His tongue sneaks out and swipes across his lips. "Give me a glimpse."

We're stopped at the light and his eyes veer down to my crotch. Since I'm not wearing a skirt, I have no choice but to unzip my pants. Knowing we only have seconds before the light changes, my fingers slowly twist the b.u.t.ton and even a more tortuous pace to unzip my jeans. "Paige." His voice is pained. I spread the sides of jeans open, revealing my lacy white pair of panties and he inhales a deep breath. "Jesus," he whispers and his hand roams over the center console.

I slap his hand and he retracts it a millimeter. "Uh uh," I shake my head and he narrows his eyes.

"Don't tease me." His hand ventures again and it's hard to forbid him to snake that hand down my pants, his fingers diving into the wetness he induced.

I sc.r.a.pe my teeth along my bottom lip and his chest heaves again. This is fun, making him squirm with want. "The light is green," I tell him with hooded eyes. Right after horns honk behind us, his extended hand fists into a ball and a low growl erupts from his throat.

"You will regret what you just did." He throws the car into first through the light and quickly shifts to second.

"Will I?" I shrug one shoulder still giving him the come f.u.c.k me eyes.