Page 70 of Carson

He grins wide. “No problem, ma’am, we’ll get this over to them.”

Who the fuck is this guy?

My mom puts her hands on her hips. “Stop calling me ma’am. I’m not old,” she says gruffer than I knew she could be.

“I meant no offense.”

“You don’t call Jesse ma’am,” she accuses.

“Well, again, no offense, but she is the farthest thing from a lady I could imagine.”

Her irritation disappears. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s come over me. I know you didn’t mean anything by it.”

He remains steady. “What would you like me to call you?” he asks.

She looks at me and then back at him. “Just … just call me Mom.”

His eyebrows about jump clean off his face and he takes a step back. “Mom?”

“Yes,” she answers firmly. “I’m not old enough to be a ma’am. I’d rather you call me Mom.”

He stutters. “Well, I could call you Lily,” but as the words leave his mouth, he cringes.

She finally relaxes and laughs lightly. “See, you know you want to call me Mom.”

“But …” He looks so uncomfortable. Almost more so than when we heard her private conversation with my brother. “Why?”

She walks over and pats his cheek roughly. “Because you are my sons’ brother now. Carson and Cole need a buffer, and unfortunately that’s you.” She turns away, going back to gathering the items she needs us to deliver to her customers. “But don’t you worry, it will come with a few perks.”

Carver takes a lamp she hands him. “And what is that?”

“Telling you would ruin the joy of finding out for yourself.”

His dark brown eyes roll in his head. “Whatev …” he begins to say but stops immediately when she gives him the look. Same one that can stop my dad in his tracks. That’s about the only thing that ever puts him in his place.

That’s what he gets for sassing her.

All I can do is stand by helplessly.

“Now, your brother will be back late tonight. We’re having a family get together at the warehouse tomorrow at six. I expect you both to be there.” She wags a finger between the two of us. “I have an important announcement to make.”

“Can’t you just tell us now?”

“No. I want you all together.”

I’m already planning on being at the warehouse, so that works for me, I guess. I’m not staying at home with my brother and his … whatever she is.

My mind goes to the conversation I overheard between him and my mom. A talk that he should have been having with me. He probably would if I was talking to him.

I know. I know. I’m being childish.

Or am I?

Maybe we just need a clean break. I don’t know if I can watch him slowly pull away from me over time. Like, let’s just get it over with.

“Okay, sure, we’ll be there,” I tell my mom, picking up one end of the dresser as Carver grabs the other.

After we get everything loaded in Carver’s truck, we head out of town. “I’ve never seen you be so nice to a woman before,” I tell him. “It’s weird. Stop.”