I pull up to the Carlin house a little after seven. I’m already late, but I can’t help sitting out in the driveway a little while longer. I’m bracing myself before I walk up to the door and face the music. I close my eyes and take a deep breath before making my way out of the car. I stop right outside the door, just as nervous as I was on my first visit here, just as I am every Sunday when I come over for dinner. Nothing’s really changed, I’m just as overwhelmed with being near the gorgeous blonde behind that door as I ever was.
Before I even get the chance to knock, the door is pulled open and she’s standing there staring straight at me. She has a smile on her face and, just for a moment, I forget that she’s not mine, I forget anything and everything that isn’t her.

“Planning on staying out here all night?” With that, I’m brought out of my thoughts, I’m brought to a very real Spencer standing there, smiling at me.

“No, but now that you mention it, it is really nice out here.” I take a deep breath in and exhale to emphasize that.

“Too bad, I need you to save me.”

I quirk an eyebrow. “From?”

“My parents. Kyla and Glen bailed and since you decided to take your sweet time getting here, I’ve been alone with my mom for the past twenty minutes. Twenty minutes!” She stresses the last two words and her face is just a little flushed. I try not to let her see the smile that’s quickly spreading across my face, but as our eyes meet, I know it’s too late. “Oh, you think this is funny?”

“No.” I try my hardest to say it with meaning, but the laugh that escapes from my lips completely discredits this assertion.

“Okay.” She has a smirk on her lips and I know this isn’t heading anywhere good.

“Spence-”

Before I even get the chance to finish my sentence, she has turned her head away from me and said the four words I’ve come to dread. “Mom, guess who’s here?”

“I can’t believe you did that.” The words have barely left my lips before I’m being pulled into a hug by Paula and dragged into the house. I turn my head to find Spencer smiling smugly at me. I stick my tongue out at her and mouth the word ‘payback’ as Paula begins leading me into the dining room, where Arthur is setting the table.