Free A State of Jane by Meredith Schorr Page B

Just really thirsty!” I began walking over to his small kitchen.
    “Rock climbing will do that to you,” he called after me.
    “I still can't believe you talked me into indoor rock climbing. My sister will be shocked. I always sucked at gym class in school.” I opened the refrigerator and sorted through the contents looking for a water bottle. “You want anything?” I asked just as I felt arms embrace me from behind.
    “I bet you're much more athletic than you give yourself credit for,” he whispered in my ear.
    I turned around to face him, my back against the refrigerator. “You think so?”
    Tucking a hair behind my ear, he said, “I know so.” Then he took my hand and led me out of the kitchen. He stopped to turn off the television and said, “If you join me in my bed, I'll prove it to you!”
    I took his hand and shook it firmly. “You've got yourself a deal!”

C HAPTER 16
    Cory brushed my arm as he walked from Claire and Kevin's living room to the bathroom. After stuffing ourselves with delivery pizza and the garlic bread with cheese I had made, we were too tired to tear ourselves away from the couch and late night television. Kevin had just told us that his jeans were unbuttoned underneath his sweatshirt and we were laughing about it when Cory came back in the room.
    After plopping down on the couch next to me, he asked, “Did I miss something?”
    “I was just asking Kevin why he wasn't as forthcoming with information when my parents are around,” I said.
    Standing up and stretching his arms over his head, revealing some of his bare belly which had grown considerably over the past month, Kevin said, “I wouldn't unbutton my pants in your mother's presence, much less tell her about it. I swear Mrs. Frank has x-ray vision and would just know.”
    “That's nuts,” Cory said. “How would she just know?”
    All at the same time, Claire, Kevin and I replied, “She'd just know.”
    Running a hand through his thinning light brown hair, Cory said, “Yikes. She sounds scary.”
    I scooted closer to him on the couch and kissed his cheek. “No worries. She'll love you. You're a catch.”
    Winking, Kevin said, “Yeah and she's kind of a M.I.L.F.”
    Claire, who had gotten up to gather the empty beer bottles drunk by the boys, playfully swatted Kevin's head before walking to the kitchen. “So gross, Kevin!” When she returned to the room, she gestured towards the two of us and said, “By the way, she's been asking when you're inviting Cory over for Sunday brunch.”
    “What did you tell her?” I asked.
    “I told her to keep me out of it.”
    I turned to Cory. “No pressure. You don't have to meet my parents if you don't want. At least not until she asks me directly. For now I can play dumb.”
    Cory shrugged his shoulders and said, “Set it up for whenever you want.”
    “Really?” I asked.
    “Really?” Claire repeated.
    Laughing, Kevin said, “No. Really?”
    “How bad can it be? Free brunch, right?” Cory said, laughing and kissing me on the cheek.
    “Well, if you don't bring cake or something, she'll talk about you behind your back so it won't be completely free,” Kevin said.
    Grinning, Cory shook his head and said, “I can handle it. Besides, I'll have to meet the folks eventually right?”
    My face beaming, I said, “Right.” I should have known Cory would be cool about meeting my parents. He was perfect and I couldn't wait to show him off to my mom.
    Just then Cory's cell phone rang and he whispered, “Crap. It's work. I have to take this.”
    As he walked to the hallway to talk in private, I looked over at Claire. She gave me the thumbs up sign and mouthed, “A keeper.”
    I smiled, thinking exactly the same thing.

    *   *   *

    “So, I heard you've been asking about Cory,” I said to my mother a few days later when I actually caught her at home.
    My mom said, “I don't know what you're talking about.”
    “I heard you want to meet Cory.”
    “Only if you plan to keep