“Sorry Momma.” Cade lifts his hands in surrender and he gives her an apologetic look before walking over and taking a seat across from me at the table.
“Drink, sweety?” She asks me again, a gentle smile on her face.
“I’m alright,” I say, reaching across the table and snatching the glass of water from Cade’s hand. “Cade was nice enough to get me some water.”
He balls his hand into a fist atop the table as he watches me drink from his glass, and I peek at him over the rim and wink. If Idid something like this when we were kids, he probably would’ve beat the shit out of me when our parents weren’t looking.
But that was then, and this is now. If he tries to beat me up, I’ll kick his ass across town, and he knows it.
“So why did you come back?”
“Cade!” My mother shouts, smacking his shoulder with a dish towel.
He flinches, instinctively covering his head. “I’m just curious, Momma. I’m not trying to be rude.”
I highly doubt that.
”I watched the Titanic with a girl the other night,” I say, staring down at the glass. “Made me think of you, Cooper, and Callie. So I decided it was time to try and fix things.”
Cade snorts. “So some girl is the reason you’re here trying to fix years of no contact?”
“No,” I reply, glaring at him. “The movie is.”
”Do you know how stupid?—“
My mother smacks him with the dish towel again and he presses his lips together in a straight line.
“I think it’s time you go help your father and brother finish up whatever it is that they’re doing out there before dinner is ready,” she says, staring him down with a warning look that gives me chills.
“Yes ma’am,” he mutters, as he stands up.
Cade reaches across the table and yanks the glass of water from my hands and chugs the rest before he gently places it in the sink, kisses our mother on the side of her head, and walks out the back door.
“That boy is always looking to start a fight with just about anyone,” my mother mutters as she sits in his spot. “Feels like he’s been angry his whole life.”
“That’s Cade,” I say with a smirk.
“Anyway, that’s enough talk about grumpy men.” She places her kitchen towel on the table and leans forward eagerly, resting her chin in her palms. “Tell me all about this girl you went on a date with. She someone special?”
The tips of my ears grow so hot, I’m sure she can see it, despite most of my hair covering them.
“Momma…” I groan in embarrassment, not wanting to talk about Kairi right now.
“Oh come on,” she says with a giggle. “I deserve to know who’s been taking care of my son while he’s been gone.”
I let out a deep sigh and look her in the eye. She has the biggest grin on her face and I already know she’s going to be demanding I bring Kairi here to meet her.
“Her name is Kairi,” I start.
“Oh lala, that’s a fancy name.” She shimmies in her seat. “Where’d you meet her?”
I clear my throat, looking away. “She’s on the surf team I compete with.”
Her smile drops slightly. “Don’t you all live together in one giant house?”
I nod, raising a brow. “We do.”
She slams her palm on the table, causing me to jump, and pins me with a stern look.
