Spoiled by the Silver Fox

Maddie's voice was tinged with hurt, "So, you still don't like me... You don't enjoy hanging out with me."

"I told you, I don't dislike you..."

"But you don't like me either..."

How long were they going to dance around this issue?

Putnam took a deep breath and asked, "Are you free this weekend?"

Maddie would make herself free no matter what; she nearly gave herself whiplash nodding, "Yes!"

Then she looked at Putnam with hopeful eyes.

Putnam said indifferently, "Then come over to my place. It's about time my dad met you."

Maddie's face was a picture of shock, "This isn't a date... We're going to your house?"

"Huh? Aren't parents supposed to meet?"

"But my parents... You haven't met them yet?"

"Saturday at my place, Sunday at yours? Does that work?"

Maddie nodded furiously, "Yes... But I'm a bit nervous."

"Nervous about what?"

"Do your folks know I had plastic surgery?"

Putnam was slightly irritated, "Does it matter?"

"I heard through the grapevine... your dad's been boasting that the Damon family only chooses beautiful daughters-in-law, so the grandchildren will be attractive too."

Putnam felt his patience crumble. When had his father started spouting such nonsense in public?

He said coolly, "I'm the one marrying, not him."

"Oh... Then I'm not worried. I wasn't bad-looking before, just had monolids and a flat nose... Putnam, you're so handsome, with such good genes, our kids will definitely be cute if they take after you."

How had the conversation veered in this direction?

Putnam glared at Sebastian, "Are you happy now, you little troublemaker?"

Sebastian smiled contentedly, "Very."

His sister, who seemed to have just remembered him, dropped her tennis racket and sprinted tow

, leaving Cyrus behin

Wa

But then.

Stephanie burst out excitedly, "Maddie, Gillian, you finally made it!"

Sebastian was taken aback. So, his initial perception was mistaken.

The little traitor. If someone else she cared about was around, she became oblivious to his existence.

Maddie was buzzing with

excitement, "Steph, Putnam said he'llnoveldrama

take me to meet his parents next week, and then he's bringing me home to meet mine!"

"Wow! Really? Good job, Putnam!"

Good job, my foot.

He was just cutting corners, going through the motions like it was a chore.

If it hadn't been for Sebastian, would he have bothered with all this?

Once his dad decided it was time for marriage, the stepmom would handle the wedding, and he'd just up on the day to play his part

as

groom.

Did he really need this hassle now?

That old saying about women being a handful was proving true.

Once a woman came into the picture, life invariably got more complicated, and the troubles just kept piling up.

Gillian chuckled, "Steph's been to the Ingram family's place, right?"

"Been there, yeah, more than once!"

"The Ingram family's grandfather seems to like you a lot on Twitter."

"Ha, that was later... He was quite against me at first."

"Being liked now is what counts."

"That's all thanks to my Silver Fox... Silver Fox, did I play well just now?"

Sebastian said indifferently, "Not bad... Come here."

Stephanie hopped over and flirtatiously blinked at him, "What's up?"

Sebastian took a towel and gently wiped the sweat from her forehead, "You're sweating."

"Oh... You know how it is with sports, you work up a sweat. Why did you stop playing, Silver Fox?"