My mother's eyes widen and her hands come together with an excited clap. "Oh, honey this is so great I can't wait to meet him!"
                          
"Really?" I sigh letting out a pent up breath.
                          
Her eyebrows dip suddenly. "What does that mean for you and Fran?"
                          
My heart clenches and my stomach flips. I was hoping she wouldn't remember that part of our conversation from spring break. "It's okay," I lie. "We'll get through it," I all but whisper an edge of pain evident in my voice.
                          
"I'm sorry," she murmurs quietly. "But I am excited to meet him! What's his name?" she asks with excitement obviously trying to change the line of question.
                          
I pause before answering. "You've actually met him before," I tell her slowly. "Asher Lawton," I finally divulge.
                          
Her face twists and her eyes widen. Her gaze drops from mine before her hands fall from the table and land on her lap. "You're dating Asher?" The question flies from her mouth with obvious disbelief.
                          
"Yeah," I tell her with half a shrug. "I know rumors fly about him through this town but he's actually a really good guy and I lo—"
                          
"You what?" she questions in shock her voice raising an octave and turning harsh.
                          
"I like him," I say going back on my words. "A lot," I add with a racing heart.
                          
Silence sits around us. It weighs on my chest as my mother says nothing but emotions flash in her eyes and her mouth opens but nothing comes out as if she can't find the right words.
                          
"Can you just meet him before you judge him?" I plea. "Mom, come on, have an open mind. You know how Easton can be," I say echoing the words she has always told me. She taught me at a young age how small towns can be. How whispers fly and secrets rarely stay that way.
                          
An exasperated sigh flutters from her lips. "Okay, okay, okay," she relents. "I'm sorry. I can't wait to officially meet him tonight," she apologizes with a smile though I know it's forced, as it doesn't meet her eyes.
                          
Something stirs within me. Uneasiness, I realize.
                          
I know Asher has some bad rumors that float about town, but my mother has never been one to judge someone before meeting them. She's always been so open, accepting. But at the mention of his name an emotion flashed deep in her eyes. Fear? No it couldn't be, it doesn't make sense.
                          
My clammy hands slide against my shorts before I push away from the kitchen and let the moment slip away.
                          
My mother will love him. Right?
                          
The next couple hours pass by quickly as I finish some homework and begin to help my mother prepare dinner. I cut some bell peppers, and onions and, occasionally stir the sauce.
                          
Dinner has all come together. The smell wafts through the air and makes my mouth water. My eyes flicker to the clock above the stove to see it's five minutes past the time I told Asher to be here.
                          
I wipe my hands on the hand towel before walking away from the hot stove. My fingers type out a quick message to Asher before sending it. I can feel my mother's eyes on me, watching me, and I begin to feel sweat bead at my hairline.
                          
"He's just running a few minutes late," I comment casually, trying to ease myself more than my mother.
                          
Suddenly my phone rings and a smile lifts my lips in excitement. I grab my phone and go to swipe my finger across the glass when the name on the screen makes me pause and my heart drop.
                          
"Hey Brooks, what's up?" I ask hating the disappointment that seeps into my words. Where the hell is Asher? Why isn't he here? Why isn't he the one calling me right now?