“Okay. I understand. I’m only a phone call away if you need me. You know that, right?”
“Of course,” Trihn said, softening at her mother’s words.
“I love you.”
“Love you, too.” Trihn hung up the phone.
That had gone better than anticipated. It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t like her conversation with Lydia. Her mom wasn’t on Trihn’s side about this thing with Preston, but she didn’t want to tell her mother the truth. That would make things difficult.
Plus, she couldn’t prove that Preston had cheated on Lydia after they had become exclusive. She just had her knowledge of Preston and the fact that he had fucked her at the beach house while there on vacation with Lydia.
“Hey,” Damon said behind her.
Trihn quickly turned around. She hadn’t even heard the music stop. She had been so wrapped up in her own thoughts. “Hey. Sorry. I didn’t realize you were done.”
“Yeah, all finished. Are you okay?”
She nodded. “Just talked to my mom. Wasn’t as bad as I’d thought it would be. Your mom gave me the courage to give it a try.”
“Did that courage come in the form of wine?” he asked, gesturing to her glass.
Trihn took another sip and smiled. “Nothing wrong with wine.”
“Well, I’m glad it went well—or at least better than you’d planned. You still up for staying for dinner? I think my mom is freaking out because I brought a girl home.”
“Yeah, about that…” Trihn said. She glanced up into his big brown eyes and smiled. “Girlfriend?”
“Fuck. I knew you were going to bring that up.”
Trihn shrugged. “Kind of hard to miss.”
“I know it’s too early. I don’t want to rush you.” He stepped toward her and brushed her hair behind her ear. “But I like the idea of moving forward.”
“It is kind of early. I’m glad that I’m out of my last relationship, but it’s really only been a month since it ended.”
“I get it.”
“But I like you,” she told him. “And I like this.”
She leaned forward and dropped her lips onto his. He pulled her flush against his body. He licked his tongue against the seam of her lips, and then she opened herself to him. His kiss was electric and enticing, reminding her of all the reasons that she was giving in to him.
“Well, well, well…” Mel loudly cleared her throat in the doorway.
Trihn and Damon abruptly stepped apart. Her cheeks heated. That was not what she’d wanted Damon’s mom to see the first time she was meeting her.
“Sorry, Mel. It won’t happen again,” Trihn said quickly.
“Oh, who cares? We’re all adults here. I just needed someone to finish peeling the potatoes. So, when you two lovebirds are done, I could use some help in the kitchen.”
Damon laughed when his mom walked away. “Sorry about that.”
“Are you kidding? She’s so cool.”
“Well, I’m glad you like her.”
“She’s clearly the reason you’re so wonderful,” she said.
“Wonderful, huh?” He planted one more kiss on her lips.
“Yep.”
His hands started roaming her body again, and she stepped in closer.
“We should probably go help out or else we’re going to miss dinner,” he said.
“Oh, I like the sound of that.”
He groaned. “Later. I promise you, later.”
It was with great effort that he pulled away, but she liked it so much more later when he followed through on his promise.
“I’M KIDNAPPING YOU.”
Trihn looked up at Bryna standing there in mile-high black Louboutins and a skimpy red dress.
“What?” Trihn asked.
“You heard me, bitch. You have exactly one hour to get dressed and ready, and then we have plans.”
“Um…Bri, I’d love to, but I already have plans with Damon tonight.”
Bryna sank into her hip and gave her a perfect I-don’t-give-a-shit look. “You always have plans with Damon.”
“And you pushed me to him,” Trihn said. She dropped the pencil she had been using to work on her designs. Final proofs were due next week, and she was almost finished with what she hoped were fashion show–worthy designs.
“Yes. That’s all great, but he can’t have all your time. I haven’t even seen you the past couple of weeks.”
It was true. Since Trihn had met Damon’s mom, she and Damon had been spending all their time together. It was as if the term girlfriend had flipped the switch between them. Trihn knew that she should be cautious, waiting for the other shoe to drop or for someone to pull the rug out from under her. Damon was the rebound one-night stand guy after all. Yet she couldn’t help from jumping feetfirst into this scary endeavor all over again. Her heart was on the line, but when she was with Damon, her worries would disappear. And it felt good to just be with him.
“I’ve still been around,” Trihn argued. “Plus, you practically live at E’s house.”
“Whatever. Just get dressed. Stacia and Maya are coming, too.”
“Maya is coming?” Trihn asked in disbelief. “She got out of work?”