Summer Fling (Players of Marycliff University Book 1) by Jerica MacMillan Page A

breakfast bar. Her oversized shirt hung off her shoulders, her collarbones visible beneath her skin. She wore her dirty blonde hair in a ponytail, accentuating the lines and angles of her face that were pulled tight in a scowl directed at him.  

    Lance gave an awkward wave. "Hi."

    Abby still stood near the front door. "Mom, this is my friend Lance that I was telling you about. He gave me a ride today when my car wouldn't start. Lance, this is my mom, Diane."

    Lance tried to give Diane a friendly smile, but the scowl on her face didn't budge. He shoved his hands in his pockets, feeling awkward when she didn't say anything or do anything other than glare at him.

    Abby came over and put a hand on his arm. "I'm sorry, Lance. I didn't realize how long we'd been here already. It'll probably take a little longer. Are you thirsty or anything?"  

    He nodded.

    "Let me get you a glass of water. Have a seat." She gestured toward the living room furniture.  

    Lance settled himself on the loveseat, purposefully avoiding the sofa that Diane obviously preferred. He heard the water running while Abby filled a glass for him, and when he looked toward the kitchen Diane was gone. The sound of a door closing in the hallway told him she'd snuck past while he was sitting down.

    Abby handed him the glass of water. "I'm sorry about that. Like I said, she doesn't like meeting new people. I need to finish talking to her. Will you be okay here for a few minutes?"

    "Sure. Take your time." Lance took a long drink of water. Abby gave him the same tight smile from earlier and followed her mom to her bedroom.

    He sat on the loveseat feeling out of place and uncomfortable. He drank down the glass of water, thankful for the cool wetness, and set the empty glass on the side table next to him. He could hear low voices coming from the direction of the bedroom. He couldn't make out words again, but it sounded like another argument conducted at just above a whisper.  

    Abby came out a few minutes later and sat down on the end of the sofa nearest to the loveseat. She rested her head on the back of the couch and closed her eyes. Lance watched her, noticing the tight set of her mouth and the furrow between her brows. His remaining irritation dissolved at seeing how upset she was. He kept his mouth shut. He didn't know what to say, and he felt like he was intruding by being there.  

    After a moment she took a deep breath and let it out. She opened her eyes and turned toward him, sitting forward on the couch. She focused on a point over his left shoulder so that she was facing his direction but wouldn't have to look him in the eye.  

    She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again. Finally, "My mom needs me to run a few errands for her. I hate to ask this after you've already–"

    Lance cut her off. "Just tell me where we need to go. It's not a problem."

    She looked at him, then, letting her eyes roam over his face. She nodded once and stood up. "Okay. Let's go, then."
    * * *
    Abby led the way to Lance's car and waited for Lance to open her door. It had just become so expected that she didn't even try to beat him to it, and he didn't have to jog a few steps to get ahead of her or block her access to the handle with his body. She just stopped and waited for him to catch up and open it for her. She realized she'd done it as she was sliding into the car. But she was too tired and distracted with her mom to care.

    Lance slid into the driver's seat and started the car. "So, where to?"

    "She needs me to pick up a prescription for her from the pharmacy and then get some groceries."

    "Okay." Lance turned the car around in the overgrown grass and weeds that made up the lawn and pulled into the street heading back towards town.  

    Abby directed him to the pharmacy where she'd called in her mom's prescription. It was a small local chain. Her mom liked using it because they knew her and it was rarely crowded.  

    "It should be ready by now. I'll just