17
Jake
On Thursday, I had made arrangements with Reyes for him to come over after work on Thursday. He’d said he had a few meetings with the other coaches, which gave me plenty of time to make dinner. Before I got started, I decided to check in with my mom. The stress of the last few days was making me restless to hear her voice.
We talked for about ten minutes until I finally gave in to her demands for a quick video tour of the house. I’d sent her about a hundred photos since I’d arrived, but of course she wanted to see more. My mother had a soft spot for older homes and fell in love with the original hardwood floors. The moment she saw my stone fireplace, she gushed. I had to admit, seeing the house through her eyes and hearing her enthusiasm gave me a new appreciation for the space. It was still too small for my liking, but maybe it wasn’t as bad as I’d originally thought. The one thing she didn’t like was the drapes, and she promised to send me some new ones right away, which just made me laugh.Who the fuck cares about drapes?But I let it go, arguing with Mom was pointless.
By the end of the tour, I wasn’t quite ready to hang up. “Hey, Mom, do you need to go already?”
She arched a brow, reminding me so much of Dad it made me a little homesick. I’d give just about anything for one of her sixty-second hugs. “You know how it is, son. I’ll talk untilyousay goodbye. It’s always been that way.”
I smiled at her and set the phone on a shelf in the kitchen. “I’m gonna make dinner, so if I disappear from the screen, just give me a minute. Tell me what’s new with you.”
She told me about a play she’d been to with some friends, and eventually we got around to talking about how she’d honored Dad for his birthday. It hurt to think of her visiting some of their favorite places, knowing how difficult it must have been for her, but at least she hadn’t gone alone. Two of her closest friends had been with her.
Mom noticed the spoon when I lifted it to my mouth to taste. “What are you making?”
“Can’t you smell Dad’s chili from there?” I teased.
“Mmm! I wish I was there to eat it with you. I never could cook it like you two.”
“I wish you were here too, Mom,” I said. “I miss you.”
She smiled. “I miss you too. How’s work going?”
“Eh, the same,” I said in a simple tone to play with her. She huffed. “It’s good. I’m starting to really like it here.”
“Do you get along with the others?”
I chuckled. “Are you asking if I play nicely with the other kids on the playground? Yeah, we have some great people here.” I briefly filled her in on Brad and his brother Isaac and how close they were. She loved hearing about our recent adventure to Charleston. Eventually she asked about Beckett, just as I knew she would. Beckett had become like a pseudoson to her through the years, so hearing more about his new boyfriend had been the highlight of every conversation. Knowing he had found love was a mother’s wish come true.
“I can’t wait to meet Preston,” she cooed.
“Well, come visit. Beck would love to see you.”
I should have known the topic would lead her right into dangerous territory.
“If that smile I keep seeing on your face is any indication, I think you’ve met someone too,” she ventured.
I carefully dodged her eyes. Even through a screen, Mom would be able to see the truth in just one glance. “OrmaybeI’m just happy here,” I hedged.
She tsked. “Please. A mother knows these things, Jacob,” she pressed. “Go on, tell me about him.”
Before I could find a way out of the awkward conversation, the front door opened and Reyes stepped in, looking amazing in navy track pants and a black quick-dry pullover. His dark hair was loosely tied back in a knot, which I simultaneously loved and constantly wanted to undo. I preferred when his hair was down, especially if his face was anywhere near mine. The tiny tickles against my skin were out of this world.
Shit, focus, Jake!Rey was two seconds away from revealing himself to my mom, and that wouldnotbe good. The last few years, Mom had been relentless in her quest to get me to “settle down.” If she even had a speck of proof I might be interested in someone, she’d be all over it. It would guarantee a visit from her no matter what.
I tried to silently plead with my eyes for Reyes to stay back, but he was oblivious, looking at the pot on the stove as he approached. A huge smile spread over his handsome face as he leaned in to kiss me, right in front of the camera.
“Hey, you,” he said. I was too mortified to move and he was too distracted by the food to notice. “Mmm. Is that chili? It smells amazing.” He bent to take a sniff. “Ooh! Is that sausage? You know I love sausage,” he said with a seductive wink.
“Oh, I bet you do!” my mom hummed.
Reyes jumped about a foot at the unknown voice, looking around the expanse of my wannabe kitchen. It took him a minute to spot my phone propped up on the shelf of the open cupboard.
Reyes glanced between her and me, but I didn’t dare look at either of them. “Uh, sorry. I guess I should have knocked,” he said to me as he gestured over his shoulder. “Your front door was unlocked so…” He trailed off.
“Oh! Letting yourself in already? That’s a good sign,” Mom said.
