Ryder’s eyes turn sad. “She died when I was six.”
I didn’t know that either. Maybe he’s right. Instead of waiting for them to spill everything, I need to ask questions.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Mom says sadly.
“Me too,” I say genuinely.
Ryder acknowledges that with a nod and looks over my shoulder. Alessa walks around the corner with Gage in tow. He gives me a slight smile which I’ll take at the moment with Mom sitting here. He slides onto the stool beside me. “Yes,” he says, looking me in the eye. “We are.”
It takes me a minute to get what he’s saying. He’s answering the unspoken question of whether we’re dating or not. “That’s what I want too.” I squeeze his leg under the counter and know we still have a lot to work through, but deep down, I know we can.
I look over at Mom, and her eyes are glued in front of her. I follow her line of sight and almost laugh; she just caught sight of Dex.
“Mom,” I chuckle, and she turns wide eyes at me. “That’s Dex. Dex, this is my mom.”
He nods. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too,” she replies, turning back to him.
“Don’t worry. He has that effect on a lot of people,” Alessa whispers between mine and Mom’s shoulders.
Mom lets out a surprised laugh. “He’s just so big,” she whispers back.
Alessa shrugs. “He’s harmless…mostly.”
Mom laughs again, and I can tell she’s starting to relax, which makes me happy. When I went to bed last night, I was afraid she would wake up this morning and not be okay with this. I know this isn’t the life Mom dreamed for me, it isn’t even one I dreamed for myself, but there is no other place I’d rather be than with these guys.
Chapter 44
Alessa
Leo’s mom showing up is not how I expected last night to go. I’m still in fucking shock that she’s sitting in the living room laughing and joking withallthe guys, including Micah, Evander, and Mateo. I wish I had a camera when she caught sight of Holden’s innocent-looking face, but after what happened in the office yesterday, I know he’s anything but innocent.
“I’m not your fucking errand boy,” Micah gripes. I had him get food for all of us. We just finished eating and are sitting around the living room.
I roll my eyes. “I never said you were.”
“You have a house full of guys.” He waves his hand. “Why couldn’t they go?”
“Are you really having a temper tantrum right now?” I laugh.
He smiles. “Fuck off, shithead.”
I just shake my head and run through the list of things that need to be done, but I’m not sure when they’re going to get done with Leo’s mom here. She seems to take everything in stride, which is surprising as hell. The sad truth is, none of us had mothers or know what it’s like to grow up with a good one, except for Leo. It’s kind of nice to have her in the house.
We need to go to The Games tonight to meet up with Alexey andDmitri to get a plan in action for their mom. I need to check with Gerald and Boone about Lucas, Landon, and Playboy. I need to tell Leo that I’m giving him the reins to the new restaurant, and I have a surprise for Holden. I just don’t know when any of that will get done.
My phone starts ringing, and I look at the screen before excusing myself. This isn’t a conversation you can have in front of one of your boyfriends’ moms.
“Hello?” I answer, closing the patio door behind me.
“I have a meeting set with Spinner,” Ghost says. “Today.”
I groan inwardly. “What time?”
“He’s supposed to meet me at the garage around two. He said fucking Xander better be there.”
“Xander won’t be, but we will,” I promise. I don’t know how but business is business, no matter who’s visiting. “I’ll see you then.”
