“Yeah. Her. She looked happy, though.”
“Mom was kissing some guy.” Evan couldn’t believe it. Mom, with a guy? And she hadn’t told him? They told each othereverything.
“Hey, I think it’s great she’s dating again. I mean, your dad’s been gone for six years. She should live a little.”
“She’ll have a coronary if he goes for second base,” Evan growled, uncomfortable just thinking about it. “I mean, Mom’s older. She should be—”
“Cuddling her grandchildren?” Reid raised a brow. “Spending her golden years smiling and laughing instead of trying to match up her socially awkward, annoyingly clever only son?”
“Mostof that sounds like it came from her mouth.”
“Well, I added the socially awkward and annoyingly clever parts myself.”
“Thanks a lot.”
“Hey, I told her I’d mention it.” Reid pointed a finger at him. “Get married and give her grandkids because she’s not getting any younger. Thoseareher exact words, by the way. And she’d already called me to remind me about dinner this Friday, but thanks for nagging us about it.”
“If she talked to you, why did she tell me to tell you?”
“Covering all her bases, most likely.” Reid put down some money for the bill. “Now I have a date with a beautiful redhead, and you can bet your ass I’ll be talking about her at our dinner Friday. Get a life, Evan. You’re no longer working all the time, so you have no excuse.”
An image of the knife-wielding angel from earlier in the day surfaced. “I’m not interested in dating. Besides, my last girlfriend called me boring.”
“You are boring. But I hear desperate single women aren’t so choosy.”
Evan flipped him off.
Reid laughed. “Right. And have I mentioned that Smith will be your moving partner for the next two weeks? The Hillford job starts tomorrow. Magnolia, big project. Don’t be late.”
Evan’s phone rang, and ABBA sounded loud and proud from his back pocket.
Reid laughed his ass off. Evan plunked his head down on the table and groaned.
Chapter 3
Thursday afternoon, Daniel Sykes covertly stared at his sister, currently moping with Lila about missing Rachel, who sat next to them chattering about how wonderful her boyfriend was about moving in together—all while the three of them sketched new ideas for some job they’d contracted.
Girls. He shook his head and quietly left his crouched position at the top of the basement stairs. Sykes Design, his sister’s graphic design business, had done a lot for his life. It allowed Kenzie to be around if he needed something, provided her with awesome friends he’d grown up loving like his own family, and gave them an income so they didn’t lose the house their parents had willed to them.
But while he appreciated being around his sister, whom he loved like crazy, it was also kind of annoying to have her hovering all the time. Especially when he had crap to do she likely wouldn’t approve of.
Stealthily, he snuck to the kitchen, dropped a note on the counter, and left the house for the nearest bus stop. Twenty minutes later, he found his friend hanging at a local coffee place that made the best soft pretzels. And for cheap.
He bought two pretzels and two sodas and met Rafi in the back. Cha-ching. The awesome guy had brought his laptop.
“Payment.” Rafi held out a hand. An upcoming junior who stood a few inches shorter than Daniel, Rafi was supposedly a cute guy in demand, according to all the girls last year. Daniel didn’t know about that, but he did like the fact they played the same video games. Plus they had bossy older sisters in common. He still couldn’t remember how they’d become friends, but he treasured hanging out with the guy. Rafi was cool, older, and he treated Daniel like an equal.
Daniel handed him a pretzel and a drink. In return, Rafi pushed his laptop Daniel’s way.
When Rafi noticed Daniel Googling Vets on the Go!, he snorted. “Man, those guys are everywhere.”
“Huh?”
“Why are you looking at that? My sister works for them.”
Daniel glanced at his friend. “Really? Because they helped my mom’s—my sister’s—friend move a few days ago.” He inwardly winced. He usually did much better at calling Kenzie his sister. But he’d been calling her Mom forever, and sometimes he relapsed.
“Cool.”
