𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙨𝙚! Hailee Steinfeld X M Reader

26. The Truth.

Hailee's phone buzzed on the countertop. She picked it up, glancing at the caller ID: Mom. With a soft sigh, she swiped to answer.

"Hi, Mom," Hailee greeted, walking over to her sofa where Chloe was scrolling on her phone.

"Hi, sweetie! Are you free this afternoon? I was hoping you could come over," her mom's cheery voice filled the line.

Hailee frowned slightly. "Uh, sure. Is everything okay?"

"Of course! I just miss you. It's been a while since we sat down and talked. Plus, I made some food you're going to love," her mom said in a sing-song tone.

Hailee chuckled lightly, glancing at Chloe. "Okay, Mom. I'll be there in a bit."

After hanging up, Hailee grabbed her bag. "Apparently, Mom's made one of her famous meals and wants me over," she told Chloe.

Chloe gave her a tight smile. "Sounds fun," she said, though there was a flicker of unease in her tone that Hailee didn't catch.

~~~

When Hailee and her mom finally met, her mother's joy was palpable. She greeted Hailee with an enthusiastic hug and ushered her into the house. The dining table was already set with her mother's signature dishes—Hailee's favorites.

"You really went all out, Mom," Hailee said, sitting down. "This looks amazing."

Her mom beamed, setting a plate in front of her. "Only the best for my daughter. Eat up!"

Hailee started eating, but there was a small pang of suspicion forming in her chest. Her mom's smile was too broad, her energy too purposeful. "Alright, Mom," Hailee said, leaning back in her chair after a few bites. "What's going on? What's with the special treatment?"

Her mother feigned offense. "Can't I spoil my daughter without her questioning it?"

"Uh-huh." Hailee raised an eyebrow, unconvinced.

Her mom sighed and sat down across from her, placing her hands neatly on the table. "Fine. I need you to come to an NFL match with me this weekend."

Hailee furrowed her brows. "Again? Why are we suddenly making a habit of this? I thought you weren't into football."

"I wasn't," her mom said smoothly, "but it's a good chance for you to unwind. The energy of the stadium, the thrill of the game—it's exciting! Don't you think so?"

Hailee tilted her head, unconvinced. "You hate loud places, and I've never seen you care about football before these last few games. So, what's the real reason you want me to go?"

Her mom sighed and softened her tone. "Hailee, look. You've been working so hard lately, and I think it's important for you to step out of the bubble a little. You can't just stay cooped up with Chloe all the time."

"I'm not cooped up," Hailee said, exasperated. "I've been out more in the past month than ever before."

"Well, I still think it'll be fun for you," her mom said, brushing off Hailee's protests. "Plus, I already got the tickets. So you're coming, okay?"

Hailee groaned but nodded reluctantly. "Fine, but this better not become a regular thing."

Her mom smiled brightly and clapped her hands together. "Wonderful! You won't regret it."

Hailee sat on the couch with Chloe, venting about the strange interaction. "Mom's acting really weird lately," she said, crossing her arms. "First, she drags me to these matches, and now she's practically obsessed with them. I swear she's turning into an NFL fan overnight."