“That wasn’t very convincing,” I chuckle.
She rolls her eyes. “Get out of my face before I stab you.”
“Stab me or spank me?” I joke.
“Oh my God,” she groans. “I forgot she heard that.”
I laugh. “It’s fine, baby. She’ll just know we keep things spicy.” I waggle my eyebrows, earning another sharp punch to the arm. Fuck, that hurt.
“Out of my face,” she warns, pointing to the living room. I grin and start backing away. “Out, Leo,” she says again.
I hold my hands up with a laugh. “Don’t escape out of the backdoor,” I say and make my way back to the living room before she can hit me again.
Mom is sitting there with Evander and Mateo when I walk into the living room. Evander turns to me with a raised brow, and I shrug before sitting back down. What else am I supposed to say?
“You look so much like your father,” Mom says, causing Evander’s eye to twitch.
“Yes, ma’am,” Evander nods politely.
“Let’s just hope you don’t have his shitty personality,” she mutters, causing Mateo to die of laughter.
“Not at all,” Mateo promises.
Alessa comes back into the room, sitting in one of the chairs, and conversation thankfully starts flowing naturally. Mom gushes about the house, and Alessa effortlessly explains that her dad built the businesses and left them to her when he died. Minute by minute, it starts to feel less awkward, and I’m thankful to Gage and Alessa for keeping the conversation going.
After about an hour, Alessa stands up. “We’ll give you and Leo some time together.”
“I was just getting ready to head back to the hotel.”
“Nonsense. You can stay here. There’s plenty of room,” Alessa says, and I can hear the hidden meaning. It isn’t safe for Mom to be at a hotel alone. “I’ll see you in the morning.” Alessa smiles, and the guys follow her out of the room, saying their goodnights and leaving me to answer the questions I can see in Mom’s eyes.
Mom sighs and turns to face me. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“What do you mean?” I ask, trying to delay the inevitable.
She gives me the mom look. “Don’t play dumb, Leo. You always were a horrible liar.” She waves her hand to where Alessa left the room. “You said things were complicated the last time I asked about her; now you’re staying with her?”
Fuck it.“Mom, what I’m about to tell you is a lot of information, but I need you to keep an open mind. Can you do that?” She nods,and I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to figure out where to start. Mom is open-minded; she doesn’t judge anyone and never met a stranger. But this is her own son. How will she react?
“I love her,” I start, and she smiles.
“I know you do. I can see it all over your face.” She takes my hands in hers. “Just tell me.”
“I’m not the only one she’s dating,” I say, testing her reaction, and she frowns. “She’s dating four other guys too.”
“Is she not ready to settle down?”
“No, Mom, she is. I’m aware of the relationships. We are all in it…together.”I’m explaining this like shit.
“I’m sorry, but I’m confused.”
“All five of us are knowingly dating her. At the same time.”
Her eyes widen, and I know she finally got it. “Oh.” Oh? That’s all she has to say?
“I’m also dating Gage.” I might as well just drop the bombs right after the other.
“What?” she croaks. “You aren’t gay.”
