My stomach churns, souring the gingerbread tastings from earlier. A conversation seems like a horrible idea. What if I’m just interpreting things in a different way than he is? That would be humiliating to be told I’m alone in this.
“…and I told him you’re single and ready to mingle,” Mom says, winking at me.
I jolt at her words and frown. “What? Who?”
She huffs as if annoyed I was daydreaming. “Lord, pay attention, sweetie. I’m talking about James.”
“Bug Eyes?” Eric blurts out with a laugh.
James, the son of my parents’ neighbor, Clark, is between me and Eric’s ages. As a kid, he had huge eyes for his small head. At least now he’s more proportionate.
“Don’t call him that,” Mom chides with a chuckle. “James is in real estate. Clark said he’s done really well for himself.”
James was fun to run around with in the neighborhood when we were kids, but I never have been and never will be romantically interested in him. We never had chemistry. Just friends.
“You told James I’m single and ready to mingle?” I ask, shaking my head in astonishment. “Seriously, Mom?”
Mike pats her arm and smirks at me. “Your mom is a regular cupid. She’s set up most of the guys at the office with friends of hers. Teddy and Rina are getting married in the spring.”
Eric threads his fingers with mine. It’s possessive and claiming. I’m definitely imagining things, right?
“He’s not good enough for Clara,” Eric says, sitting up straighter. “James used to eat his eye boogers.”
Layla and Ruthie join the conversation after that gem, both of them screeching in disgust. This earns a yelp from Frosty down below. Though Eric is clearly exaggerating, I don’t correct him. It seems no one but Mom is rooting for me to date James.
“I’m good,” I say to my mother. “I can find my own boyfriend.”
Thankfully, our food arrives an instant later, and that horrible conversation is officially over.
Eric
Bug eyes?
Seriously?
I’d wanted to razz Yolanda more about her choice in men for my stepsister, but I let it slide. Things have been nice with the family. Having been gone for so many years, I didn’t realize how much I missed being around them. There were holes inside of me that were hollow and cold. Now they’re being filled with warmth.
We finish our goodbyes outside Smoke & Sugar and then hurry over to our vehicle. While I drive us back, Clara happily chirps about the highlights of her day. The snow is coming down heavier than before. If it doesn’t let up soon, we’ll be snowed in because neither of our cars were made for this weather.
Snowed in with just Clara and Frosty?
Doesn’t seem all that bad if I’m being honest.
It’s nearly dark when we pull into the Moonlit Gables parking lot on the side where her unit is. We pass by a couple of units and I slow to a stop when a soccer ball rolls out across the road in front of me.
“Roll down your window,” Clara instructs.
“Who plays soccer during a snowstorm?” I ask with a frown as I mash the button.
A young guy, bundled up and grinning, saunters over to us. I’m guessing the two kids he was playing with are his, but I’m not liking the way he looks at Clara.
Is he interested in her? Does she like him? Is that why she wanted me to roll down the window?
“Hey, Riko,” Clara says when he approaches. “Soccer isn’t a year-round sport, you know.”
He smirks at her. “Says who?”
“Literally everyone.”
