Hank
Corey’s bagel popped up,and he grabbed it from the toaster.
“Ow, shit!” He tossed the bagel from hand to hand while wincing. “Hot!”
I held out a paper plate, one eyebrow raised. “Really?”
He tossed it onto the plate and blew on his hand. “They’re not always that hot when they get done,” he said defensively. He glanced at the settings on the toaster. “Did you change something?”
I chuckled. “Nope. You still have no common sense. Nothing has changed.”
Corey flipped me off before snatching the plate from my hand. I went back to eating my bagel in between gulps of dark roast coffee. “So, excited about the new job?”
Corey had gotten a call back on an application he’d put in to work in the kitchen at The Diner. He was starting on dishes, but he had the potential to move up to short-order cook.
He grimaced. “I guess.”
I eyed him over my bagel. “Get excited about paying your half of the rent, at least.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
My phone rang, and I held it up to show Corey the Caller ID. “And that I can tell Mom you’re gainfully employed.”
“I’m excited,” he said quickly. “Be sure to tell her how motivated I am.”
I smirked at his change of heart as I answered my cell. “Hey, Mom. What’s up?”
“Can’t a mother just call to say hello to her son?”
“Mm-hmm. You’ve got two of those. Are you sure I’m the one you want to say hello to?”
“Of course you are!” She paused. “But how is Corey doing? Is he still withthatgirl?”
I stuffed my wallet into my back pocket and grabbed my keys. “Yeah, Mom. He’s still dating Rachel.”
Corey pantomimed a dagger to his heart and twisted it. I shook my head, lips twitching, as I scooped up Bruno and went out the front door. At least Corey wouldn’t have to hear the rest of the inquisition.
“I’m on my way to work,” I told Mom.
“All you do is work,” she said.
I laughed. “You worry Corey doesn’t work enough. You worry I work too much. Maybe you need a Xanax.”
“Oh, hush! So I worry about my boys. That’s what mothers do.”
“We’re both fine, Mom. Don’t worry about Corey. I’ve got his back.”
“Yes, and what about your back?”
I strapped Bruno into his doggy harness, then buckled myself in and started the car. I switched the phone to hands-free so I could drive while we talked. This call had already set me behind schedule.
“My back is fine.”
“Honey, you never date anymore. All you talk about is work. You need a life. Friends?—”
“I have friends,” I cut in.
“In Granville?” she challenged. “And not the four-legged kind!”
