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“I’m sure Mel will be more than happy to help,” West says with a shit-eating grin.
“Time for me to go back to class and help out a certain professor.”
* * *
When I walk back over to my house after working out with the guys, I hear Italian music blaring through my speakers. Ma is in the dining room, sweeping while she sings and dances along to the music. I can smell something amazing cooking in the oven, and there are remnants of flour covering my large, marble countertop. Probably from making homemade pasta or bread. It’s the kind of smell that makes your mouth water, a scent that makes a house feel like a home. Vastly different from the scent of Serenity baking that horrible casserole. I’m not against vegan food, I’ve had some great vegan food. But never when it’s been cooked by Serenity.
“Hey, Ma!” I announce myself as I enter the room, so I don’t scare her.
She startles anyway, turning to glare at me with the broom in her hand. Her shoulders relax when she sees me, and she smiles adoringly. The endearing smile of a mother who loves her baby boy, even though he’s thirty. She’s wearing old jeans and sneakers with a plain white tee and a D.C. Eagles apron that I gave her as a joke on Christmas, but she loves it.
“There’s my boy,” she says, pulling the remote for my surround sound system out of her apron pocket and turning down the music. “How’s training? I’ve barely seen you lately.”
I lean against the wall as she moves into the kitchen to check on whatever she has in the oven. “I know, things have been busy. And Dad and Serenity came this weekend.” I try to keep my face neutral, not letting her know Dad was a huge asshole, not that she’d be surprised. But Ma is happy now, she’s doing great. I don’t want to pull her into Dad-drama.
She puts oven mitts on, opens the oven, turns the pan, then closes the oven door. “How’s that sweet little Ruthie?”
“Adorable as always. And nothing but trouble,” I say with a grin.
“Sounds just like her big brother,” Ma teases. “And my goodness, she looks just like you too!” She points to the picture of Ruthie hanging on the stainless-steel fridge with an oven mitt. “The kitchen and dining room were a mess. Did you have a party? I thought you were past that.”
“Actually, Dad and Serenity were making a big meal, and I invited Noel and her family over for dinner. They had to endure Serenity’s vegan cooking.” I chuckle.
My mother’s face instantly falls, but she forces a smile, trying to cover it.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, confused. Ma has never been upset by me spending time with Dad. And she couldn’t care less about his girlfriends anymore.
“Noel’s the girl you like?” she asks carefully.
“She is. She’s the one, Ma. She just doesn’t know it yet.” Suddenly, I feel embarrassed and stare down at my feet. My one-sided infatuation must sound ridiculous. I’m definitely leaving out the part about her going on a date with another man this weekend.
“And you introduced her to your dad, but not to me and Charlie?”
Ahh, now I understand. “No, it’s not like that. Inviting her over was an easy excuse to spend time with her, and to get to know her family. When I introduce her to you, it will be because she knows that I love her. It will be when she loves me too. It will be when we’re ready to move forward together. Introducing the two most important people in my life to each other is a big deal. But I will introduce you two, someday.”
Ma clutches her chest. “Oh Colby. You’re such a sweetheart. How could she resist you?”
I blow out a slow breath. “Well, I have a certain reputation. One that doesn’t scream future husband.”
She nods in understanding. “You have to earn her trust.”
“I do. And I’m trying.”
CHAPTER 20
NOEL
It’s Thursday, the evening before my date with Dexter. I’m at Gram’s house for dinner, we ordered food from our favorite French bistro a few blocks from her place. But I’m distracted, I have countless thoughts and feelings swirling around inside of me, my senses are overwhelmed. My chicken barely has any taste to it. It’s like my brain is so overwhelmed it can’t make my taste buds work properly.
“Okay,” Gram says, dropping her fork onto her beautifully set table. She even has fresh flowers and a few candles lit. Gram knows how to throw a dinner party, even when it’s only me.
“What’s going on in that mind of yours? You usually eat that chicken in about five minutes flat.”
“I do not! I’m not an animal.” I put my own utensils down and sit back in my chair.
She quirks an eyebrow. “Whatever you say.”
Gram is doing that thing where she’s staring me down so intently, I wonder if she can read my thoughts. With a sigh, I tell her everything that’s going on. She’s a great listener, and I’ve always confided in her. I should’ve told her about Colby being my dating coach sooner, but it sounded so stupid.
