Unable to resist, Mike placed a hand over hers on the arm of the chair giving her comfort. There was nothing to be embarrassed about in their friendship.
Destiny looked up at him and time stood still. Her emerald-green eyes bore straight into his soul. Could she see how much he wanted her? Was it written all over his face? He tried hard to mask it, but looking at him like that, he couldn’t tell. It was getting harder and harder to resist her. How he longed to drag her out of her seat and plop her in his lap. To kiss her luscious lips. To make her scream his name in pleasure. Her eyes heated, burning bright and hot as if she read his thoughts. They had looked like that in the cafeteria when she clung to his arms. He thought it was a trick of light, but here it was again.
Ask her, his mind screamed at him.
“Destiny,” he whispered, his words coming out dry and broken. His throat dry and hoarse. His nerves were getting the better of him. He could feel his hands shaking and growing clammy. No, he needed to ask her out. Now was not the time for basket of nervousness.
“Mike?” She looked at him seemingly imploring him to continue. As if she knew what he wanted to say, giving him strength to get the words out.
Mike closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He could do this. “Destiny, I—”
“Hello all,” a cheerful voice called from the doorway.
Both Destiny and Mike turned to see the newcomer. His face pulled into a scowl at the woman standing there in a bright hot pink dress that was way too short and skimpy for a woman that appeared to be in her fifties.
“Oh no,” Destiny groaned beside him.
“Do you know this woman?” He asked turning back to her.
“It’s my mother.”
Chapter 4
Leave it to her mother to have the worst timing in the world. She loved her mother, but she was as flighty as a bird, swooping in whenever the mood struck then taking off without warning. Usually it was because a boyfriend left her and she needed to nurse a broken heart or needed money. Sometimes it was months between visits. Once it was a whole year before her mother popped in. But she always came back.
Destiny used to hate not having a stronger relationship with her. It wasn’t from lack of trying. Even Grandma didn’t have a strong bond with her except through her bank account.
Then came the daunting thought. What would happen when Grandma dies? Would she never see her mother again?
Mom had never held a job, but Grandma was not one to abandon family, and, like her, mom was an only child, so Grandma gave her an allowance every month. Destiny didn’t agree with it, but it wasn’t her money.
Destiny had been trying to reach her over the past two months, since grandma started getting sick and moved out here, but all she got was her voicemail. Leave it to her mom to just show up instead of calling. She always did love a dramatic entrance.
Too bad it came right before Mike had been about to say something. She knew he could be bashful at times. More than once she saw him struggle for words. It was cute even if she felt bad for him. Whatever could he have been about to say? If only it was to finally ask her out. Or make a move. Something. If only he gave her a sign he was interested, she’d be the one asking.
But now wasn’t the time to think about it. Her mother was here, which meant the drama show was about to unfold and everything was going to be about her and her needs.
“Is this a bad time?”
“Not at all.” Grandma Carol said sweetly. Grandma may not approve of her lifestyle choices, but she knew no amount of arguing would change her mom. Destiny had witnessed their fights several times. Even as a child. She had hidden in her room covering her ears as the two of them fought. Grandma accused her of being a free spirit and would corrupt Destiny with her wandering ways. Mom couldn’t even remember who Destiny’s father was. When Destiny was seven, she and her mother showed up at Grandma’s house. It wasn’t the first time, but that time Mom’s boyfriend had beaten her up pretty bad. The asshole had looked for Destiny, too, but she was good at hiding.
Some of her boyfriends had given her the creeps the way they watched her. So she stayed hidden unless it was just her and her mom. He left in a huff when he didn’t find her. Mom picked herself up and went to Grandma’s. That had been the last straw for her. Grandma offered her an allowance and demanded Mom sign over custody of Destiny to her. Mom hadn’t hesitated. It hurt, but Destiny learned to bury those feelings. She couldn’t control how her mother reacted to things.
On the bright side, Destiny received the best education and never had to worry about hiding again. Grandpa died almost twelve years ago and Grandma didn’t date again. Instead Grandma poured everything into her business and raising Destiny. She owed her grandmother everything. If it weren’t for her interference, Lord knew where she would have ended up. Or how.
Even after all these years, Grandma always tried to have a relationship with Mom. “How did you know I was here?”
“Your secretary.”
Secretary? “Mom didn’t you get my messages?”The dozen messages about Grandma in the hospital.
Her mom waved her off. “I’ve been far too busy to check my phone.”
Destiny felt her ire rising. Grandma was sick and Mom had been too busy to pick up the damn phone to check on her.
Grandma sensed the tension and stepped in. “You’re looking well, Patty.”
Mom always looked well. Grandma’s money paid for that. Spa treatments, designer clothes, even the occasional trip to the plastic surgeon. As if a doctor could prevent her from aging. Her mother was in her mid-fifties but dressed and acted like she was still in her thirties.
