He blew out a breath and nodded, filling his mug. No sense in denying it. His buddy was too astute, and a really good bullshit detective.
“She still in the city helping her mother?” Ben turned his mug over and emptied the carafe.
“Yeah.” He nodded. “Probably for another week.”
He wasn’t going to last. The withdrawals were murder. His chest fucking ached. What was up with that?
“Jammed at work?”
Not as much as he’d like to be, but he hadn’t lost any of his recent bids. “No more than usual.”
Right now, he had three remodels going on. Two residential, the other commercial. And on Monday, he was scheduled to break ground on the ice cream parlor.
It was the free time at night that was killing him.
“How about the theater?” Ben asked, pushing the carafe to the end of the table with the lid up to let Elle know it was empty.
“Finished up the last set last night.” He hoped they did Sophia’s designs justice. Phoebe seemed pleased, so he had to assume they’d hit the mark.
In less than thirty seconds, Elle dropped off a full carafe, and removed the empty. “The usual today, guys?”
They both nodded.
“How’s Sophia’s mom?” she asked.
“Good,” he replied. Driving her crazy, from what she’d told him last night on the phone. His lips twitched because there might’ve been a more colorful version involving bats and shit. “Her follow up doctor’s appointment is tomorrow, I believe.”
Ben smiled. “That’s good. Maybe she’ll be back sooner than expected and cure your lonely-ass blues.”
Idiot.
“She has a big family, right?” Elle asked.
“Yeah.”
“So, it’s safe to bet there are others around in the evening?”
He frowned, too clueless to see where this was all leading.
Ben snorted. “You’re going to have to spell out whatever it is you’re getting at, Elle. Neither of us have had enough coffee in our system to decode women’s logic.”
“Not sure it has anything to do with coffee,” she said dryly, meeting his gaze. “Okay, bottom line, Sophia can’t come here because she’s taking care of her mom. Why can’t you go there?”
He stilled, his mind reeling at something so obvious, yet he’d been oblivious. “Visit her?”
Elle nodded. “Yes. If she has a big family, I’m sure someone could sit with her mother while she goes out on a date with you.” Winking, she slapped his shoulder with her order pad, then headed toward the kitchen. “I’ll be back with your food in a bit.”
His gaze met Ben’s.
“Yeah. Never would’ve thought of that,” his buddy said, shaking his head. “But don’t tell your sister. I’m starting to get a reputation for being sensitive to her needs, and I don’t need to disillusion her.”
Ryder’s stomach instantly clenched. “Ah, hell. Did you have to go there?”
“What?” His buddy reeled back. “I wasn’t talking aboutthoseneeds…although…”
“Don’t even think it.” He held up his hand and glared.
Ben chuckled. “So…what time you leaving for the city?”
