"Nothing really, I was a little nervous about this talk I guess." She started playing with the hem of her shirt. She was nervous about the talk we were about to have?
                              
"Mom, you already gave me the talk years ago." I tried to lighten the mood. To be honest I was a cake away from peeing my pants.
                              
She laughed nervously. And she was blushing.
                              
I knew my mom. She didn't blush easily.
                              
"Oh my God, Am I gonna need to have to talk with you?" She totally hooked up in Europe. I knew it! Ew. Okay. I should be more grossed out about this.
                              
"Well I got you so the talk didn't really work now did it?" She deadpanned. My mom was back to being her normal self.
                              
"Stop stalling and tell me everything! Well, not everything. I don't need details. At all. Please don't give me any details." Gwen had given me details about her weekend hook up. It was very... colorful.
                              
"It's not like that. But I did meet someone. His name's Hugh and he's transferring to Harvard in a week but not in the same field as me. So we won't be colleagues or anything." She had a sparkle in her eyes. Clearly she liked this guy.
                              
"Seriously, I don't care about the colleague thing. Tell me the important stuff. Is he hot? Wait. Hugh? Oh God he's British isn't he? That's definitely hot." I started ranting. This probably wasn't an appropriate mother-daughter conversation but screw it.
                              
"He is from London and he's definitely attractive. Thankfully. The most people at the congress were old farts or very boring. Hugh stood out. We started talking and it clicked but I was being careful because he worked in England. And then he told me about his transfer so that was good to hear."
                              
"When will I meet my new daddy?" I smiled. Of course I wouldn't call him dad. I loved my own dad too much and that Hugh guy would never replace him. Just like Beth could never replace my mom. That didn't mean I didn't like her.
                              
Even though it's weird seeing my parents happy with other people I've always been supportive. As long as they don't bring home douchebags I'm not complaining.
                              
"Well he's moving next week so maybe the week after? I don't want to rush anything. We're technically not even dating. So even your thing with Chase is more advanced than what I have with Hugh." Mom observed.
                              
I told her about the date and just like everybody else, she was surprised.
                              
"So you only made out with him?" I smirked.
                              
"You made out with Chase?" Mom gasped. Crap. I forgot I hadn't mentioned that part. I told her about the coffee and about the date. Not what happened in between.
                              
"Mom! Stay on topic! We were discussing Hugh Grant." She raised her eyebrow but decided to drop the subject.
                              
"His last name isn't Grant unfortunately. Anyway, that's what I wanted to talk about. And I wanted to apologise." Now I was confused.
                              
"Apologise? Did you already get married? Or are you pregnant?" I wasn't jumping to conclusions at all. My mom started laughing. Thank God. I mean, I was only joking but could you imagine if it were true.
                              
"Of course not. I feel bad that I'm not here often." She hadn't expected it to be this busy after she got back so I guess she felt guilty about that.
                              
"You could always buy my affection. I don't mind." I could use a new car or a trip to Rome or something like that.
                              
"I'm being serious Jill" Obviously. She had been baking for God's sake.
                              
"So am I. Look, I told you I understand. Your work is a big deal and it's really cool they gave you more funding." I tried to look as serious as I could. I told her so many times I didn't mind but somehow the guilt wouldn't go away.
                              
"You're an amazing daughter. You got that from me, not your father." She smirked. I think I got her evil side too.
                              
"Look at you, a hot mom with a succesful career and a hot British guy on your arm. I probably shouldn't call him hot, it's creepy, right?" I mean, wasn't he supposed to be a dad figure in my life?
                              
"It's a little creepy but flattering so I'll tolerate it." I could see in her eyes this conversation meant a lot to her.
                              
I snorted.
                              
"Oh I forgot to ask you if your date is on Saturday 'cause I'll be home." Crap, my date was on Saturday.
                              
Chase and I had been texting pretty much every day. Not just about the date, we'd talk about random things and about our days and stuff like that. Yesterday he had asked me if Saturday was okay and I replied it was. So I was going on my first date with Chase this Saturday. It still seemed weird.
                              
"Yep it's Saturday. He's picking me up at seven." My mom started grinning at that. Creepy woman.
                              
"Great! I don't think I've ever met him. He's picking you up? He's really giving you the proper dating experience huh?" Okay, I didn't like where this conversation was heading.
                              
"I guess." I shrugged. Maybe if I stopped responding with full sentences, she'd get the hint.
                              
"It means he likes you. He likes likes you. Jill, why are you feeling so uncomfortable? Oh you love him don't you. Sure you do. My little girl is growing up." She cooed. She was literally poking my cheeks.
                              
That's bullying.
                              
My mom was still laughing while I grabbed the plate with cookies and headed upstairs.