Lachlan
Spatula in hand, I lifted the pancake slightly, checking the color of the bottom. Seeing it had turned a brownish hue, I flipped the batch on the griddle, then cut up a few more strawberries.
After Julia went to talk to Imogene, I wanted to do something to make this situation less awkward, so I thought I’d make breakfast.
Initially, I was just going to make my usual bacon and eggs. Then I recalled Julia mentioning Imogene’s favorite breakfast was chocolate chip pancakes. While I knew mine wouldn’t come close to her mom’s, especially considering I had to go online to find a recipe, I hoped they weren’t completely inedible.
It was crazy to think how much my life had changed since meeting Julia. Cooking pancakes in the hopes of winning the approval of a fourteen-year-old girl so I could keep dating her mother?
It was a stark contrast from a few months ago when I wouldn’t even entertain the notion of staying the night at a woman’s place, quickly getting out of there with a promise to call mere minutes after I got off.
I never called.
Meeting Julia changed me. She brought out a side of me I thought died the night I lost Piper. Allowed me to release the guilt that had burdened me for too long now. Gave me hope.
At the sound of footsteps, I looked toward the foyer as Julia and her mini me rounded the corner. Last night, as I looked at the pictures, I’d commented on how similar they looked. But in person, it was even more remarkable. Uncanny. Sure, their hair was a different color, as were their eyes, but everything else was practically identical. Right down to their current facial expressions.
“What’s going on?” Julia asked, brows scrunched.
“I hope you don’t mind,” I said, trying to hide my anxiety.
This was completely new territory for me. I’d never even been in a situation where I had to meet my girlfriend’s parents, let alone her daughter. My last serious relationship was Piper. I was as close to her family as I was my own, even before we started dating. This current scenario was so far outside my comfort zone it was laughable.
I just hoped it didn’t make Imogene uneasy to see me dressed in what was clearly my outfit from last night.
Maybe this wasn’t the best idea. Maybe I should have waited until I was at least wearing clean clothes. Not a wrinkled shirt and slacks.
“I thought you might be hungry.” I glanced at Imogene. “Both of you.”
Imogene squinted, focusing her attention on the griddle. “Are those chocolate chip pancakes?”
I fully expected her to turn up her nose, say something to the effect that they looked nothing like her mother’s. Let’s face it. Compared to Julia, I was rubbish in the kitchen.
“Is that okay? I can make something else. I just—”
“Holy shit!” Imogene squealed, dropping all pretenses. “Lachlan Hale is in my kitchen making me breakfast.”
“Imogene,” Julia scolded. “Language.”
“I’m sorry, Mama.” She shifted her gaze to Julia, bouncing on her feet, obviously struggling to reel in her enthusiasm. Much like Julia often did. “But this is a swear-worthy event.”
“Thanks,” I offered with a slight laugh. “I think…”
“Imogene, baby,” Julia continued, “I’d like you to meet Lachlan Hale. My…” She trailed off, her lips forming an adorable pout. “What are you to me? Boyfriend sounds so…inadequate.”
“It certainly does. But I’ll take it. It’s much better than being nothing to you.”
“Are you for real?” Imogene interjected, mouth agape, hand on a hip.
“Did I say something wrong?”
Suddenly, she stepped toward me, flinging her arms around my midsection. “Not in the least.”
I stiffened, taken aback. I thought I’d have to work a little harder to earn her approval. I remember how suspicious I was of any man who dated my mother after my father passed away.
Then again, this was a vastly different situation. Julia didn’t lose the love of her life, like my mum had. Imogene was as much a victim of Nick’s actions as her mother was.
“Sorry.” Imogene quickly pulled back, chewing on her lower lip as she averted her gaze. “I don’t know what I was thinking. I’m a hugger. I guess I got carried away. Forgot who you were for a moment. When I heard you say that, I thought it was so stinking cute and perfect and sweet. The fact you said it to my mom made it that much better. I—”