Page 24 of Only You

“What does that have to do with you?” Sue asked.

“Jack told his parents he had a girlfriend who just moved in with him …”

“And you are the girlfriend,” Sue said, like she’d just solved a mystery.

“Yes, but I’m only pretending to be his girlfriend—”

“For six weeks,” Tim finished.

Sue frowned. “Why would he lie to his parents?”

“When we were that age, would you have wanted your parents staying with us for six weeks?” Tim asked.

Sue scowled at him, but she didn’t refute it.

“Jack loves his parents, and he plans on seeing them a lot while they’re here. He just didn’t want them—”

“Living with him. We get it,” Tim said.

Sue tilted her head and studied Kayla closely. “Why would you agree to this? If living with Josie is that bad, you can move back in with us. At least, until you find another place.”

Kayla loved her parents, but she didn’t want to move back home. “While I’m living at Jack’s, I’ll look for another apartment. It’s only temporary.”

“I still don’t understand why you have to pretend to be Jack’s girlfriend.” His deceit obviously disturbed Sue.

Tim averted his eyes and took a long drink of coffee.

“Jack’s parents, his mom in particular, have been nagging him about settling down. They want him to get married and have kids like Collin.”

Tim nodded, but Sue shook her head. “That’s still not a good reason to lie to them.”

Sue’s disappointment rolled off her in waves, threatening to pull Kayla under. Of her parents, her mom had always been the stricter one.

Tim reached out and patted Sue’s hand. “It’s not our place to judge. I’m sure Kayla knows what she’s doing.”

Kayla wanted to lean over and hug him, but she refrained. She understood Sue’s point, but her course was already set. She wasn’t going to back out on her promise to Jack now.

“Anyway, thanks for telling us,” Tim said to Kayla.

“When are you moving in?” Sue asked.

Kayla winced. “I already did. Last night.” Thus, her real reason for stopping by this morning. “I wanted to give you my new address.”

“Your temporary address,” Sue corrected.

“Right.”

Tim took out his phone. “Shoot,” he said.

Kayla rattled off the address, and he typed it into his phone.

“I’ll add it later,” Sue said dismissively.

Somehow, Kayla had managed to finish her coffee and bagel during their conversation. “I should get going.” She stood, gathered her garbage, and put it into the trash can. Then she faced her parents again.

“Will we get to meet him?” Sue asked.

“Yes,” Kayla assured her. “After you get back from Tennessee.”