“Know what?”
“The parts of you that you’re intent to hide.”
I chuckled. “My family is full of therapists of all types and Duke. Trust me, they see. And they call me out every chance they get.”
She squeezed my arm. “Good. I’m glad you have an outlet. How long are you in town?”
“I decided to stay through the weekend.”
She arched a brow. “Oh, so are you staying with a woman?”
“Why do you care?”
Deja giggled. “Okay, okay. I might be trying to play matchmaker. Chaz’ sister is such a beautiful person. She needs a good guy. And I think you’d like her.”
“Even if I was interested, I couldn’t letyouhook me up.”
She gaped at me. “Why?”
While I knew that several successful marriages had started as the result of a former girlfriend or boyfriend playing matchmaker, I stayed away from friends of my exes. Too much potential drama. “You know why?”
She pouted. “That was ages ago. Despite what I said on the radio show, I’m happy with Chaz. You know that.”
“Let’s keep it that way,” I said. “I better get out of here. I have to head to the airport.”
Deja’s brows lowered in confusion. “I thought you were staying the weekend.”
“I almost forgot you were nosy as hell.”
“Oh, shut up. Just admit I’m right then.”
“Admit what, D?”
“There is someone.”
I was tempted to talk to Deja, to gain another woman’s perspective outside of my sisters. Yet, I hesitated, because the only person I needed to talk to about Char was…Char. “Maybe.” I hugged Deja and walked to the door. “Thanks again, D. I’ll talk to you soon. Tell Chaz I said what’s up.”
Traffic going to the airport was light, and I arrived early. Once I parked, I dialed my mother since she’d left several messages.
“Hey, babe,” Mom chirped. “How are you?”
“I’m good, Ma.”
“Did Charlye make it in yet?”
I glanced at my watch. Char’s flight wasn’t due to land for another ten minutes. “Not yet.”
My mother initiated a video chat and I accepted. “I just needed to see your face.”
I smiled but didn’t speak.
Mom stared at me, her eyes seeing everything I couldn’t say out loud. “You’ve outdone yourself, son. Charlye was so happy.”
I closed my eyes as more doubts filled the empty spaces of my mind. “That’s good.”
“Sometimes we can think so much about a decision that we talk ourselves out of it.” She flashed a sad smile, but she forged ahead, “You’re doubting yourself. I could always tell, even when you thought you were hiding it from me. But what I’ve come to realize, what all of us know… You’re the counselor, the most like your father in that aspect.”
“I thought that was Duke,” I grumbled.
