She turns to me. “It was lovely meeting you.”
She smiles, then pivots back to Cecilia, kisses her cheek, and walks away with the promise of calling her later.
The little girl, Aurora, gives me a shy wave before leaving. I wave back and smile.
When we sit back down, we both just look at our cups for a second.
“I never mentioned you to her because we don’t see each other that often, between her work, mine, and the kids,” she says. “Actually, I’ve been talking to you more lately, and she lives in the same city as I—”
I place my hand over hers.
“I understand. At our age, mentioning someone new raises a lot of questions. Even if that person only has the ‘friend’ label.”
She draws in a breath and nods, visibly more at ease.
We finish our drinks and pastries, exchanging a few more words. Afterward, I walk her to her car, and we agree to see each other again before I return to Europe.
As I walk back to my own car—after waiting until Cecilia drives out of the parking lot—the only thing running through my mind is:
How easy it is to hit it off with her every time. How natural it feels to always want more.
Chapter 05
handsome, attentive, and charming
Cecily
I knock and wait for his “come in” before opening the door. The moment I step inside, he quickly closes the browser tab. But not fast enough for me to miss the glimpse of a girl’s picture on the screen.
I bite back a smile.
“Who’s she?” I ask, keeping my tone light, pretending not to be curious.
“No one!” Ethan blurts, opening a new tab with a page about urban landscape drawing. I see.
“Well,No Onehappens to have such lovely brown eyes and really beautiful wavy hair,” I say, biting the inside of my cheek to hide a grin.
“Mom.” He groans, dragging out the word like it physically pains him.
“It’s okay, you don’t have to tell me,” I reply gently. “Just remember the conversation we had a few years ago... and again last year, okay?”
Colin was supposed to have the big talk with him when he turned thirteen—about sex, boundaries, and responsibility without sugarcoating it—but there was always another deal, another acquisition, something that pulled him back into the company. So I had to put on my big-girl panties and do it myself—trying my best to keep going even as Ethan seemed mortified at having to listen to me, while reminding myself that sex is something natural, healthy, and part of life. My job is to prepare my kids, to make sure they don’t make mistakes or put their health, or someone else’s, at risk.
I move to the upholstered chest at the foot of his bed and sit, turning to face him. Everything in his room is new, except for the electronics.
Alicia was the only one who wanted to bring every little piece from her old bedroom into our new home. Ethan, like me, preferred a clean slate.
“You’re not about to give me the birds and the bees talk again, are you?” he asks, looking horrified by the idea.
I narrow my eyes at him, playfully. “When Ididhave that talk with you, you were already too old for the fairy-tale version, mister. But if you’d like me to go over it again...”
He groans, dragging a hand down his face. “Mom, seriously, you don’t have to. I know I need to be careful, and I can look things up online if I ever have questions.” He pauses, then adds quickly, “Not that I’m doing anything—I just mean, it’s good to be informed. She’s just a girl from my class…”
Then he starts rambling. I don’t think I’ve seen him ramble like this since he stopped being a little boy. This girl is definitely not just a friend. Or she won’t be for long.
“I know, sweetheart,” I say softly. “I trust you, to take care of yourself, and to take care of whoever’s lucky enough to be with you.”
I reach out and squeeze his arm.
