The Great Pretenders

Chapter 16

Matt's POV

"You do know that I've like never been home to meet the parents before?" I asked as we pulled up to Lucy's place. Her mother had been bugging her to come to dinner and she'd dragged me with her.

I was still trying to figure out how this fit into her plan to win Mark back but I kept that question to myself.

I didn't mind spending time with Lucy. She was smart and funny and generally cool to hang out with. I didn't have to pretend with her...she knew who I was and didn't have any long term plans to change me. I often sat around thinking about how different she and Val were.

Of course, I'd never fess that up to either of them.

She looked at me with those wide blue eyes "You never met Val's parents before?"

"Uh sure...I mean if you count Mr. Dibenedetto catching me with my pants down crawling out of her window." I explained.

Lucy laughed. It was a surprisingly soothing sound "She never formally introduced you?"

"That would have been awkward." I told her "We never really had that kind of relationship, I guess."

"You two were together so long."

I shrugged "I've never been really good with parents" I admitted

"Aw don't worry about that. Amy is very laid back."

"Amy? You call your mother by her first name."

Lucy blushed as she exited the car. I shrugged and followed her lead "She feels old when I call her mom so sometimes...well...it's just something we do."

I smirked at her as we made our way into her building

Before she could even knock, the door came flying open.

"Lucy!" a tall pretty woman answered the door "What took so long? I expected you an hour ago."

I smiled as Lucy allowed herself to be enveloped in a big hug. "Hi mom, sorry we're late."

"And you must be Matt." Amy Bass turned to me giving me a smaller version of Lucy's hug "I've heard sooo much about you."

"Mom! "Lucy exclaimed as she turned to me "she's lying...I haven't told her anything."

I smiled appreciatively. "Nice to meet you Ms. Bass."

"Amy." She nodded "Please call me Amy. C'mon on in. Dinner is ready."

Walking into Lucy's apartment for the third time, I took more time to notice the homey atmosphere. The décor was warm and inviting.

Not a piece of furniture matched but it still had a harmonious feel to it. Scattered all over the place were pictures of Lucy in various stages of her youth. Baby pics, elementary pics with missing teeth. Her freshman year short haired stage. We'd gone to school together as long as I could remember but I never really took the time to notice her.

"Hey c'mon into the kitchen." Lucy said waving to me frantically.

I walked slowly taking in the smell of a home cooked meal, pot roast and mashed potatoes with green beans. It smelled heavenly.

"So Matt, "Amy said "I hope you like roast. It's my best recipe."

"You mean it's your only recipe." Lucy cracked, smiling at her mother. I noticed she'd pulled her hair up into a haphazard pony tail and the shorter pieces had escaped the elastic band. It should have made her look messy and disheveled but instead I thought she looked more complete than I've ever seen her.