On the Outside Looking In (Wrong Reasons) by JL Paul Read Free Book Online

walked past her on the way out.  Her eyes quickly raked Evan’s body, instantly sending an irritating jolt down my spine.  Couldn’t she see that I was with him?  Sure, it wasn’t a date, but she didn’t know that.
    Evan wished her the same but I ignored her, in a hurry to get out the door and to my car.
    “Something wrong?” he asked.  Even though he was walking behind me, I just knew he was smiling.
    “No.”
    “Didn’t like the service?” he asked.  “You were a little rude to our server.”
    “No, I wasn’t,” I said as I pushed through the door and a gush of wind swept my face.
    “Okay,” he said, clearly amused.
    I rushed to my car, Evan on my heels.  As soon as I reached it, I opened the door, longing for the warmth.
    “Well, thank you for dinner,” I said, turning to him with a forced smile, eager to end the evening.
    “Hey, no problem,” he said, arms wide open.  “It was fun.  Let’s do it again soon.”
    I nodded as I climbed into my car.  “I need to get home.  Got that early class tomorrow.”
    “Have a good one,” he said as I shut my door and started the engine.  He stood on the sidewalk, watching as I pulled away.
    “Geez,” I said, cranking the heat.  I no sooner turned the corner than my cell phone rang.  “Oh, not already!”
    Digging in my purse with my eyes on the road, my fingers brushed against the phone, clenching it and pulling it from the depths.
    “Hello?” I answered, preparing for another dose of Evan.  I was off, though.
    “Hello, darling,” my mother cooed.
    Taking a deep breath, I switched lanes in the light traffic.
    “Hi, Mother.  How are you?”
    “Oh, just fine,” she said.  “Are you busy?  I’m always afraid to call as I don’t have your schedule.”
    “No, I’m fine,” I said.  “I’m driving home, actually.”
    “Do you have class this late?”
    “No, I was just having dinner.”
    I should have lied because my words instantly perked her interest.  “With whom?”
    “Just a friend.”
    “A male friend?” she asked.
    I considered lying this time but chose not to do that.  It was ingrained in my head to not lie to my parents.  “Yes, a male friend.”
    “What’s he like?” she asked.  “Does he attend University with you?”
    My mother was the only person I knew that called going to college ‘attending University.’  “No, he does not go to Dunne-Browling.”
    “Oh,” she said, slightly crestfallen.  “Does he attend the nearby medical school?”
    “No, Mother, he doesn’t.  He graduated from a technical school and works at a garage.”
    “Oh,” she said, again, this time stretching out the word.  “I see.  Well, good thing he is just a friend.  You don’t need to date someone like that.”
    Of course not.   What she didn’t say is that I needed to date someone who was wealthy and smart.
    “Well, I’m not dating him.  Like I said, we’re just friends,” I said.  “So, is anything wrong at home?”
    “No, dear, everything is fine,” she said.  “I was just calling about Thanksgiving.  You will be home, right?”
    “Thanksgiving is a month away,” I reminded her.
    “Yes, but it does take preparation,” she said.
    “I will be home,” I said.  “Mid-terms will be over by then, but I’ll have to do some studying for finals as they’ll be in December.  I don’t think I’ll be home for my entire Thanksgiving break.”
    “You worry too much about school,” she said.  “You’ll do fine.”
    Rolling my eyes, I ignored her comment.  My mother didn’t set much by women attaining degrees, thinking they should attain husbands instead.
    “I’ll call you next month to give you the exact date when I’ll be home.”
    “Okay, darling,” Mother said.  “That will be wonderful.  Most of the family will be here so I’d like everything to be perfect.”
    “I’m sure it will be,” I said as I neared the coffee shop.  “Mother, I’m just getting home now.  I’ll give you a