Too Much Hospitality

She pursed her lips, inspecting her makeup critically, every aspect of which was designed to make her look younger, contouring and hiding lines. But her looks aside, she had to make decisions, she knew she truly couldn’t keep leading him on like she was. But.. She wouldn’t and couldn’t flake on tonight. She wanted to spend every second with him that she could before she had to, ultimately, let him go, a fact that was becoming increasingly harder to deny.

She glanced down at her phone, picking it up and glancing over it unsurely. She had to steel herself, she had to make the right decision, even if it wasn’t the one she necessarily wanted to. She swallowed and unlocked her phone, going into her contacts list and searching down. It might not be for her own good, but it would be for his. Tonight he would be hers. She would enjoy every aspect of it, not worry about the future, just enjoy her moment in the sun while she could. But after tonight..

She moved to sit back on the edge of her bed, one hand running over the fabric anxiously as she dialed a number and held the phone to her ear. Waiting.

The phone rang. Once. Twice. Three times.

Maybe they wouldn’t answer? If they didn’t answer then she couldn’t say she hadn’t tried. Maybe even..

“Hey, Aunty! How’re you?” A bubbly voice gushed over the phone.

Laura deflated a little, but resolved herself, this was for the best, “Hey hon, how’ve you been? Got a minute to talk?..”


-----


Ash walked downstairs, it was ten to six but he couldn’t wait any longer, though he wanted to check his hair again and make sure there weren't any loose hairs on his t-shirt, he’d go across to Laura’s now, she would be ready by now, surely? And if she wasn’t.. Well, that would mean he would get to watch her getting ready. He blushed just thinking about it.

He stepped towards the door and put his hand on the door handle, stopping only as a voice caught his attention.

“Going out sweetie?” a soft curious voice.

He paused, pursing his lips a little guilty as he looked over to find his mom, who in his eagerness he had completely forgotten about, sat comfortably in front of the TV, eying him quizzically.