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“Well since you asked, I dropped in to Time for Love to see if they could help me find my perfect match.”
“You did?”
She nodded proudly. “I did and you know what? I got matched with a misunderstood millionaire who happens to think that I’m amazing.” She let out a shy laugh and I noticed a light pink stain on her cheeks.
“Well he’s got good taste because you are amazing, Babs.” I just hoped this misunderstood millionaire wasn’t Sophie’s difficult client, Magnus.
“Aw, thanks Stone. But he thinks I’m hot and he enjoys that I’m smart, even though it annoys him that I’m smarter than he is. I just reminded him that he was wealthier than me and soothed his ruffled feathers.” Her laughter was pure joy and I realized that flirting with me was as much a distraction for Babs as it was for me. “Magnus is definitely a character.”
“I’m happy to hear it, Babs. Just don’t give up coming here in favor of some luxury at home gym, yeah?”
She put a shocked hand to her chest and grinned widely. “I would never!”
“Yeah, yeah,” I said and waved her off. “Better get back to it before your muscles cool down.”
Babs sighed and rolled her hands. “Another man only interested in my body.”
“What a burden,” I said sarcastically.
“I know, right?” Her quick wit was one of the reasons I enjoyed our interactions but I was happy for Babs. “Feel better,” she said and left me alone again with my thoughts.
And they, inevitably, turned to Sophie, who I hadn’t heard from in a week, which I really hated. It was the longest time we’d gone without speaking since we were kids. But as much as I hated that we hadn’t seen each other or spoken in five and a half days, I hated more than it grew easier, that it hurt a little less with each passing day. It terrified me to think that in a week or a month, it might not hurt at all when right now, it felt as if I would ache and miss her forever.
Tired of my own damn thoughts that accomplished absolutely nothing, I finished my work out and took a quick shower, as hot as I could stand it and hid in my office for most of the day. Paperwork was the worst part of the job but also the most necessary so I buckled down, forced all thoughts of Sophie from my head, and started on payroll to make sure everyone got paid when they were supposed to. When that didn’t provide enough of a distraction, I got busy setting up job ads for the new facility in Tulip to send over to my new manager along with ideas for marketing and specials to get people in the door.
“If you keep working this hard I’ll never end up with any grandchildren to spoil.” My mother’s voice startled me and I quickly saved my changes before looking up.
“I’ll have to work even harder when I fire my assistant for not announcing visitors to my office.” I gave her a serious look and gasped in feigned surprise.
“You wouldn’t!”
“I might.”
She folded her arms and stepped inside the office, shutting the door with more force than it required. “Just about what I’d expect from a man avoiding his own mama.”
“Avoiding? Who’s avoiding their mama? Not me, I’ve just been busy with opening the new location.” One little white lie wouldn’t hurt, unless she saw through it and had a concealed wooden spoon with her.
“Baloney. You’ve been avoiding me and I’m tired of giving you space, dang it. Tell me, right now, what’s going on with you and Sophie?”
There was no point in lying or delaying. “Nothing Ma. Not one damn thing is going on with Sophie and I anymore. Ever.” The words were bitter on my tongue but I had to get used to saying them and more importantly, I had to get used to the reality of those words. “How have you been, Ma?”
“Can’t complain, other than to say that you missed Sunday dinner. Again,” she emphasized the last word and rolled her eyes. “I was okay with it when I thought you were doing naughty things with Sophie, but now I’m just perturbed.”
“I’m sorry about dinner Ma, I’ll make it up to you. Soon. I promise. But I really don’t want to talk about Sophie right now.”
“Fine,” she said on a deep sigh and I frowned because that was easy. Too easy for the woman I’d known my entire life and I sat back and stared at her. Suspiciously. “What?”
“You’re acting weird.”
She shrugged. “I’m old, I’m entitled to get a little weird at this stage of my life.”
“You’ve always been weird, Ma, but now you’re acting weird even for you. What gives?”
“Oh, fine,” she growled, semi-annoyed, and dropped an envelope. “This is for you. I expect to see you for dinner. Soon.” Then she was gone and I was left alone once again with my thoughts. And a suspicious envelope.
