He blushed. “Aw, Mom. Don’t get mushy.”
She found herself having to blink away tears, knowing that despite her losses, she’d been blessed to have such a wonderful son. Not wanting to bring down the festive mood, she turned the subject to Simon.
After reaffirming that his grades would once again be straight As this semester, and that he hadn’t skipped any classes since his warning a few weeks ago, she mentioned a subject she’d been trying to discuss with him without seeming as if she wanted answers.
“How’s Jenna doing?”
He immediately went on guard. “Why do you ask?”
She nibbled on a few fries, keeping the conversation casual. “I saw her at the game but didn’t get a chance to talk to her. She looks so much older now.”
He shrugged. “She’s fine. We still talk and hang out.”
“Good. You two have always been best friends.” She paused, trying not to smile at how hard he tried to act like Jenna meant nothing more than a good friend to him. Mitch had been right about her boy and Jenna. Imagine that. “How come you never mentioned wanting to date her?”
Simon whipped his head up. “Mom.It’s just Jenna. Besides, I don’t want to date anyone yet. I’m too young.”
“I agree on that one hundred percent. There’s no rush. But if youdidwant to date someone, I’d say you should ask Jenna.”
He snorted. “No way.”
“Why not?”
“We’re friends.”
“I was friends with your dad.”
“That’s different.”
“How?”
“It just is.”
Fascinated by her confident son turning red, she watched in bemusement as he came up with excuse after excuse as to why he could never date Jenna.
When he finally wound down, she asked him, “Simon, do you like Jenna? As maybe more than a friend?”
He glared. “No, Mom. Geez. Didn’t you hear anything I said?”
A yes, then.Oh man, my little boy is growing up.“Well, it’s your business. But if I could give you some advice… Life is short. Waiting for the right time or the person you think you should want to be with isn’t always the answer. Jenna is a great girl, and I’m glad you’re friends. But maybe, just maybe, you might like each other in a special way.”
“Not Jenna,” he said, sounding bitter. “She’s into some jerk who doesn’t know she’s alive. Can we stop talking about this now? Why don’t we talk about Mitch instead?”
Should have stopped while I was ahead.“Sure. What’s up?”
Simon blinked. “Ah, well, so, do you like him?”
“He’s been good to you. Yes, I like him.”
“But do youlikelike him? You’re all about me hooking up with Jenna.”
“I didn’t say anything about you hooking up.” She started, not having considered her son being physically intimate at his age. Yet why should she think Simon would be different than ninety-nine percent of the hormonally driven boys at his school?
“Not like that.” He sounded disgusted.Thank God.“I mean, you and Flash. You like each other. I can tell. Why not ask him out on a date?”
She laughed, hoping she masked her confusion about the man. “Simon, I love you, but the day I take dating advice from you is the day I cut off all my hair. Not gonna happen. I’m happy being your mom, running the shop, hanging with my friends. And yes, I do have other friends besides Nora. At some point, I’ll probably start dating again. But not today.”
“Why not?”
