Sebastian
Itapped my phone to my chin as I paced my mom’s hospital room, surprisingly less stressed after hearing Mira’s voice.
“Who was on the other end of the phone?”
I stopped in my tracks and turned, facing her. “No one.” She’d been asleep when I made the call. Hannah had texted letting me know she’d delivered the lunch as I instructed. The number of emojis that girl used, we’d have to talk about that. She’d been happy to do it when I called two hours ago.
Mira had been pulling the same type of hours that Ethan, Victor, and I had been. While I didn’t think anything of it at first, Ethan reminded me that everyone needed a work-life balance. This wasn’t something they normally did. Every once in a while, sure, but Ethan liked walking out the door at five sharp.
“No one.” I slipped my phone into my back pocket. “How was your nap?”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t think I’ll need to sleep for a week when I get home.”
“Mom,” I said as I sat on the edge of her bed. It hadn’t bothered me a ton when Dad had retired and they had relocated. Mom visited every few months and I flew down, so we still saweach other four or five times a year. I didn’t like that it was just her now.
“Who’s the girl?”
“Who says it’s a girl?”
My mom’s eyes lit up. “So it is a girl,” Mariam Reid smirked and patted my hand.
“Mom, I’m a grown man. She’s not a girl.” Mira was all woman, with all the luscious curves that made my mouth water every time I stripped her down to nothing. She even made pencil skirts and cardigans sexy.
“Tell me about her. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you smile like that.” She reached up and cupped my cheek. My mom was my favorite person. She was the one who would argue with my dad when I wanted to spend time with my grandpa at the bistro. While she supported him with every ounce of her being, she never understood his insistence on hiding his roots. They were nothing to be embarrassed about.
“She’s been a huge help with a problem we’re having at work. She sees things differently than most.”
“Like you do.”
I nodded. “I wanted to make sure she ate today. It’s been a rough week so I had Hannah take her lunch.”
“I miss the bistro. I can’t find a good chicken piccata around here.”
“You could always move back. I even have a guest house you could use as long as you want. It’s not too close to the main house. It would be like having your own place.”
She pulled her hand back to clasp the other one in her lap. “I’d just meddle and you’d hate me.”
“Never. It would be easier to come see you. No flight involved.”
She wagged her brows. It wasn’t the first time she’d asked about my plans of settling down. “Could I meet this Mira?”
“Mom, she works for me.”
“Yeah, and I was a bank teller when I met your dad. He’d just gotten his first promotion.”
I’d forgotten about that.
“She turned me down when I asked her out.”
Mom cocked her head and snickered.
“You can stop now.” I bit the inside of my cheek in an attempt to keep from smiling.
“I know you don’t like being compared to your dad, but…” she held up her hand when I opened my mouth to say something. “You have the same drive he did, even though it took you in different directions, and you both thought you’re God’s gift to women.”
“I do not.”
“When was the last time you had to try to even find a date? Have you struggled outside of your awkward teen years?”
