“Julian.”
“It's good to see you again.”
“It's good to see you too,” she said warmly.
He turned to me. “We finished early today. Storm coming through.”
“Thank you for bringing him.”
“Never a problem.”
“You coming in, Julian?” my mother asked.
He looked at me for half a second, catching whatever was on my face, then turning back to her smooth as anything. “I'll let y'all have your visit. I know you came a long way to see her.”
He looked at me again. “I’ll call you later.”
“Okay.”
He nodded at my mother.
“Bye, Julian. Get home safe.”
He left.
“Micah. Go put your stuff away. Take a shower. Grandma'll be here for a little while.”
“Okay, Mom.”
He scampered off, and she sat back down.
“Alyssa. That is afineman,” she said, giving me a look.
“He's a friend.”
“Mm.”
“He's Simone's brother. We're family-by-marriage. Plus he coaches Micah's team.”
“Mm.”
“Neither of us is… we're not interested in that.”
“I’m not asking you to defend yourself. I'm just saying he is a fine man.”
I went quiet.
“I'm going to give you some advice, and I want you to take it the way it's meant.”
“Okay.” I groaned inside.
“That man is a catch.”
“Ma, please.”
“He runs his own business. He has money. He’s never been married! No children of his own. And from what Raschad tells meand what I just saw at that door, he's the kind of man who shows up. That kind of man hasoptions. Do you hear me?”
I shrugged.
