“What?” The screen blurred, and then my mother’s disapproving face appeared.
“Stank, I should’ve known a woman was involved for you at the last minute to decide not to come home. You could’ve brought her with you,” My mother admonished, calling me the family nickname I tolerated since I was a baby because of my funky diapers.
“It’s too new, Mama.” I wiped my chest down and tossed the towel in a nearby basket. “She didn’t have plans for Thanksgiving, and I didn’t want her to be alone.”
“Is she the one you posted?”
Fuck. I closed my eyes. Chase or some other family member must have told her, since she doesn’t check my social media. “Mm...hmm.”
“Speak up, son.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I straightened up from my slouching position as if she could see me. A single mother, she’d run a tight ship when my brother and I grew up. She spoiled us because she’d done well financially as a stylist, but she didn’t spare the rod.
“You looked happy, and she’s pretty. What kind of doctor? Does she know you’re a veterinarian and have an animal clinic?” She beamed.
“She’s a resident in Emergency Medicine, and yes, she knows.” We’d spent some of yesterday comparing notes on our respective curricula while in school. We both loved science, and our conversation flowed smoothly from that point, culminating in Brooklyn wanting to cuddle and fall asleep on my chest. Her fear of being hurt again resonated with me, and I wanted to take it slow despite my laying all my cards on the table. As much as I wanted to fuck her, being physical with me meant more than a sexual release for her. She needed to be sure she could trust me with her body, and I would honor that.
“You must like her to post her on your page,” Mama commented.
“He does.” My brother peeked his head over her shoulder. “You know he hates missing your crabmeat stuffing, so she got to be the next Mrs. St. Patrick.”
Biting back my smile, I replied, “Can you focus on your own life?”
“At least I have a wife,” he taunted.
His tease struck a nerve. Chase had been happily married to his wife for fourteen years and had a nine-year-old daughter. He and his wife worked with my mother and expanded her services nationwide. My money initially afforded Chase the best treatment for his sickle cell, and regular hospital visits and blood transfusions became rare. He had his own band and would play at local Dallas clubs. I envied my baby brother for the choices he’d made in his life that kept him in a career he loved, a stable marriage with a daughter whom I adored.
“True. Which is why I’m here and you’re there. Trying to be like you and get me another wife.”
“Make sure you sign a prenup this time,” Mama warned.
“You act like Darren tried to empty my pockets. And the child support I pay to Joi is what I want to pay to make sure my son has the life his siblings had. I’m not getting a prenup. If and when I decide to get married, I’m not introducing divorce, okay? And this is why, Mama, I don’t like involving you in my business until I’m sure it is business.” I didn’t hide my growing annoyance.
“It becomes my business when you cancel plans last minute because of her.” She retorted. “Everyone will be disappointed that you’re not here with us.”
“Mama, I’m going to respectfully get off the phone. I apologize for missing Thanksgiving dinner. You’re going to be here for Christmas. I’m sorry that it’s hard for me to be around everyone and their families during the holidays, while my children are with their mothers. I’m mostly sorry that I blew up my world for a relationship that eventually failed. And if spending time with a woman who gives me hope that I can still have love upsets you, then that’s anothersorry, I’ll have to live with.”
She sighed into the phone. “Whenever you visit, I hope you bring her. Just make sure you have my grandbabies with you. I just miss my Stank.”
“Miss you too,” I relented since I canceled my holiday plans at the last hour. She had the right to be disappointed, though I’d gone home to celebrate my fortieth with all of my immediate and extended family a couple of weeks ago.
“I’ll give the phone back to your brother. I need to finish cooking. Have a good Thanksgiving.”
“You, too. Love you, Ma.”
“Hey, I didn’t know it would go like that.” Chase apologized when his face reappeared on my screen.
“How did you think it was going to go? You know Mama loves when I’m at home during the holidays? Used to get me in troubleall the time when Darren or Joi wanted us to spend time with their people.” A movement out of the corner of my eye grabbed my attention. Brooklyn stood at the door, wearing fluffy socks and my jersey like a short dress, hinting at her shapely curves. Probably naked underneath, if the way her gaze roamed my bare chest was any indication. “Look, I need to go. Will call you later.”
“Morning. Wanted to know if you were interested in breakfast.” Brooklyn dipped her head flirtatiously.
I didn’t wait for Chase to hang up at her soft greeting. She might be open to sex earlier than I perceived. “How did you sleep?”
“Better when you were under me.” She grasped the door jambs with both hands, watching me. “Heard a little of your conversation. Sorry, your mother is upset.”
“It’s cool. My mother will always think I’m that little boy she gets to boss around. I’ll make it up to her soon.” I eased up from the bench, and her gaze immediately dropped to the rise in my shorts. “I liked it better when you were on top of me. Had to move you to your own bed or you would’ve been rudely awakened.”
“I like rude from time to time.” Her appreciative gaze traveled from my shorts up my chest, making her desire known. Although I didn’t have the chiseled physique I’d had while I played, I’d maintained a steady routine, out of habit. “Never answered if you wanted breakfast.”
