She quickly turned away to look at

She quickly turned away to look at my date. “Who’s your
friend, Parker?”
“Mother, this is Abby Abernathy. Abby this is my mother,
Vivienne Hayes.”
I extended my hand and she shook it once. In a wellpracticed
move, interest lit the sharp features of her face,
and she looked to Parker. “Abernathy?”
I gulped, worried that she had recognized the name.
Parker’s expression turned impatient. “She’s from
Wichita, Mom. You don’t know her family. She goes to
Eastern.”
“Oh?” Vivienne eyed me again. “Parker is leaving next
year for Harvard.”
“That’s what he said. I think that’s great. You must be
very proud.”
The tension around her eyes smoothed a bit, and the
corners of her mouth turned up in a smug grin. “We
are. Thank you.”
I was amazed at how her words were so polite, and yet
they dripped with insult. It wasn’t a talent she had
developed over night. Mrs. Hayes must have spent years
impressing her superiority upon others.
“It’s good to see you, Mom. Good night.” She kissed his
cheek, rubbed the lipstick off with her thumb and then
returned to her table. “Sorry about that, I didn’t know she
would be here.”
“It’s fine. She seems…nice.”
Parker laughed. “Yes, for a piranha.” I stifled a giggle,
and he offered an apologetic smile. “She’ll warm up. It just
takes her awhile.”
“Hopefully by the time you leave for Harvard.”
We talked endlessly about the food, Eastern, calculus,
and even about The Circle. Parker was charming, funny,
and said all the right things. Various people approached
Parker to greet him, and he always introduced me with a
proud smile. He was regarded as a celebrity within the
walls of the restaurant, and when we left, I felt the
appraising eyes of everyone in the room.
“Now what?” I asked.
“I’m afraid I have a mid-term in Comparative Vertebrate
Anatomy first thing Monday morning. I have some studying
to do,” he said, covering my hand with his.
“Better you than me,” I said, trying not to seem too
disappointed.
He drove to the apartment, and then led me up the
stairs by the hand.
“Thank you, Parker,” I smiled. “I had a fantastic time.”
“Is it too early to ask for a second date?”
“Not at all,” I beamed.
“I’ll call you tomorrow?”
“Sounds perfect.”
Then came the moment of awkward silence. The
element of dates I dread. To kiss or not to kiss, I hated
that question.
Before I had a chance to wonder whether he would kiss
me or not, he touched each side of my face and pulled me
to him, pressing his lips against mine. They were soft and
warm and wonderful. He pulled back once, and then kissed
me again.
“Talk to you tomorrow, Abs.”
I waved, watching him walk down the steps to his car.
“Bye.”
Once again, when I turned the knob, the door yanked
away and I fell forward. Travis caught me, and I
regained my footing.
“Would you stop that?” I said, closing the door behind
me.
“Abs? What are you, a workout video?” he sneered.
“Pigeon?” I said with the same amount of disdain. “An
annoying bird that craps all over the sidewalk?”
“You like Pigeon,” he said defensively. “It’s a dove, an
attractive girl, a winning card in poker, take your pick.
You’re my Pigeon.”