NINE
“Come on in.” Morgan led his mother into his apartment, acutely aware how different his lifestyle was now versus what he’d left behind.
“I like this even more this time than when your father and I first visited.” She set her bag on the narrow kitchen counter. “It’s just enough for one person. You’ve done a nice job with it.”
“That’s me now. Party of one.” He didn’t fool himself with his forced cheeriness, and from the dubious look she gave him, his mother didn’t believe him either. “I stepped in a puddle, so I need to get out of these wet sneakers. Make yourself at home. The coffee is in the cabinet over the stove if you want to make some.” He turned on the air conditioner.
“Don’t worry about me.”
Morgan left her puttering around and changed his wet socks and sneakers. When he emerged, the coffee was brewing, and a plate was heaped with his mother’s chocolate-chip butterscotch cookies. Despite his nerves, his stomach gurgled, loud enough for it to draw his mother’s attention away from his bookcase.
“I heard that. Did you have any lunch?”
“Yeah. I was at the farmer’s market in Union Square, thinking about getting some fresh produce. I’d just bought a baguette with cheese when it started to rain buckets. I ran for the train and ended up eating it on the way home.”
“You ate on the train?”
He rolled his eyes. “Okay, Mom. I’m thirty. I think I can handle my life choices.”
Maybe he shouldn’t have said anything, because she pounced. “If that’s true, then why won’t you tell us the real reason you and Jeffrey divorced? Is it because he cheated? You don’t have to feel bad. It wasn’t your fault. We know how you loved him. He’s the creep.”
If you only knew.
“No. He didn’t cheat.” It would’ve been easier if Jeffrey had an affair. As devastating as that would’ve been to deal with, at least Morgan wouldn’t have been subjected to the mind games Jeffrey played—one day the loving spouse, the next a man so filled with anger and rage, he couldn’t control his actions.
“Then what was it? Everything seemed perfect between you except the fact that he worked so hard.”
“We grew apart, okay? It happens. I don’t want to get into this. It doesn’t matter. We’re divorced, and I’m never going to see him again. I have a new life, and friends, and I’m sick of hearing about him.” Immediately regretting his outburst, he forced a smile. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell at you. I just really don’t want to talk about Jeffrey anymore. It’s a chapter of my life that’s closed.”
His mother didn’t say anything, her thoughtful gaze on him for a long moment, and then she gave a brisk nod. “All right, then that’s what we’ll do. You’re young and living in the city. I’m sure you’ll find someone soon.”
He shoved a cookie in his mouth. “Mmm, delicious.”
“What about that Leo?”
Morgan choked. “Wh-what about him?” A cup of coffee sat out for him, and he took a sip to wet his suddenly dry throat.
“I feel like he has a story.”
“Mom, you watch too many TV dramas. Leo’s just a guy.”
“Mmhmm.” She sipped her coffee. “He’s very good-looking.”
Morgan chose to ignore her, but he must’ve forgotten that never stopped his mother from asking questions.
“So he’s the one you have a date with tonight? I heard you mention him picking you up for the barbecue.”
“I wouldn’t call it a date. His friend is having a barbecue, and when we were at the ball game, she had him invite me to come with him.” Okay, that sounded like a date, and if he could admit it to himself, he’d been a little freaked out at spending the whole evening with Leo and his friends.
“So, this not-a-date thing is new with people your age? ’Cause in my day, when someone invited me to go to a party with him, it was a date.”
“Please, Mom. Can you stop? Leo and I barely like each other. He’s rude and sarcastic, and we’re always arguing about something. He’s not my type at all.” Yeah, gorgeous, tattooed, muscular guys with blue eyes he could drown in were so overrated.
“I see.”
Which meant she had so much more to say, but surprisingly, she remained silent.
“How’s Dad?” He took another cookie and stuffed it in his mouth. “God, I’d forgotten how good these are.”
