Free Cash (Hawthorne Brothers Romance) by M.L. Young Page B

It’s demanding, but luckily I wasn’t filming today so I could come get you guys. I will be there tomorrow, though. I’d love it if you guys came by and checked out the set and met everyone,” I said.
    “We’d love to,” my mother said, a smile on her face.
    “This traffic is horrendous. You deal with this daily?” my father asked as he simultaneously checked out my car and peered out the window. I guess that’s what you get when your dad owns his own auto shop.
    “Well, the airport area is always a bit more crowded than where I live, but yeah, it gets busy. Los Angeles is the second largest city in the country, you know,” I said. 
    “I suppose you’re right,” he said, feeling the leather trim.
    “So, are you seeing anybody?” my mother asked.
    “Can’t help yourself, can you, Carol?” my father asked.
    “I’m just trying to be present in his life, Ed. Maybe you should do the same,” she quipped.
    “Let’s all calm down. The topic of my love life shouldn’t cause a fight. Yes, I’m seeing somebody,” I said as we turned onto the freeway.
    “Really?” my mom asked, perking up in her seat. “And what’s her name?”
    “Her name is Jenna,” I said.
    “Is she a co-star?” she asked.
    “No, she’s normal and not in the business at all. She’s a waitress and college student. I met her while out to dinner one night with my co-star Charlie,” I said.
    “Good. You need a down-to-earth normal girl to keep you in check. I see those supermarket magazines and how those famous ladies around here act, always dating around and getting married and divorced whenever the wind picks up. You don’t need that in your life,” my father said.
    My father was never one to shy away from his opinions, at least in my eyes. I understood where he was coming from; he just wanted me to stay safe and not get hurt like I had before, but a normal person could do just what these celebrities did with no problem. Just because Jenna was a waitress didn’t really mean anything.
    “When are we meeting her?” my mother asked, leaning forward in her seat.
    “Uh, well, I didn’t exactly have plans for that to happen just yet,” I said.
    “What? Why? Are you embarrassed of your country parents?” she asked.
    “Mom, stop. You know that’s not the case at all. We just, you know, aren’t official or anything. We’re still in that talking and learning about one another phase,” I said.
    “Well, how long have you been seeing her? Are you also seeing anybody else?” she asked.
    “No, I’m not seeing anybody else, and I don’t know, maybe three or four weeks if I had to think off the top of my head. I haven’t been counting or keeping a tab,” I said.
    “Your father and I went on two dates before we started dating officially. Are you scared to make it official?” she asked.
    “You’re asking too many questions,” I said as the stress in my voice started to build.
    “I just want to make sure you’re happy and not pushing something away that could be great,” she said.
    “No, I’m not scared to make it official. I’m just not sure she wants it to be official already,” I said.
    “Well, you’ll never know unless you ask. I want to meet her, that way I can figure it out,” she said.
    “No, absolutely not,” I said.
    “The boy doesn’t want to, Carol. Just let it go,” my father said.
    “One dinner, that’s all. I won’t bring up you two dating, or if she wants to, or anything of the sort. I just want to meet her and see if she’s good enough for you, that’s all,” she said.
    “If I set it up, will you stop talking about it?” I asked.
    “Yes,” she said, smiling.
    “Then fine, whatever, I’ll set something up,” I said, rolling my eyes.
    I looked in the rearview mirror, seeing her looking out the window and smiling, like she knew what she was doing. She always had a way of pestering me until I gave in enough to give her what she wanted. I wasn’t sure if it was something all mothers