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“Mom, please. I did what I could to help.”
“Really? What did you bake for the concession stand?”
I raked a hand through my hair and groaned. Again. “Since this is the first I’ve heard of it, nothing.”
“And I wonder why you’ve heard nothing of it?”
“What makes this Bolognese, Irish?” Xander leaned over the simmering pot with a spoon in his hand, ready for a stolen taste test.
“The Irish whiskey I put in it, of course.” She dipped the spoon and handed it back to Xander. “Have a seat, both of you. I’ll feed you while Ben catches me up on his apparently secret relationship with Coach Callahan.”
“There is no Joss and me, Mom.” Saying it out loud made it real, along with the realization that I wasn’t ready for there to be no me and Joss anymore. “Not anymore.”
She nodded and sympathy filled her eyes. “Tell me everything, honey.”
I shook my head. “What’s the point?”
“It’s pretty simple, Rita. Our boy here refuses to date women he works with or who works for him, but still decided to start up something with the pretty coach. She, of course, got it into her head that he’d changed his mind. He did and she walked. End of story.” Xander flashed a cocky smile my way and arched a brow. “Did I miss anything?”
“Nope. That sad summary is accurate. Completely.” Hearing it summed up like that made me sound like a dick, but I couldn’t argue with the facts. “Does it matter at all that I was perfectly clear about my objections before we started anything?”
“Weak sauce, man.” Xander shook his head, reproach in his eyes that turned to a smile when Mom brought garlic bread to the table. “Damn, Rita, this garlic bread smells like heaven.”
“Oh you,” she smacked Xander’s arm and turned to me. “If you had half this one’s charm, you could’ve avoided this mess.”
“The charm wasn’t the problem, Mom. Like Joss said when she, ah, ended things, we just don’t have the same relationship goals.”
“Bullshit.”
“Mom! Where’s the swear jar now?”
“It’s closed when everyone in the house is over the age of eighteen.” She folded her arms, her green gaze daring me to push the issue. “And it is bullshit, and you know it. Does Joss seem like the kind of woman who would make a scene at the office?”
“No. Obviously not. But when emotions are running high, anyone is capable of doing things against their nature.”
“That’s true, so what has Joss done since your break up to make a scene?” Mom brought the sauce and the pasta to the table, along with a salad before she sat and stared at me, long and hard.
“Nothing. She’s been avoiding me. I had to wait for her by her car just to ask her to dinner.”
“Ah,” she nodded. “So not the type to make a scene after all. What are your other objections?”
“That’s it, Mom, but it’s a pretty big objection. I can’t undermine my authority with the staff. I don’t like it either, but that’s just the way it is.”
“Then why the sad bastard look? I mean, if Joss kicking you to the curb was the right decision, you should be happy. She gave you an out and she’s not making it ugly.” Mom folded her arms and nodded. “Makes sense.”
“Sounds like a win-win to me,” Xander said as he piled pasta and sauce on his plate. “But he hasn’t realized one important thing yet.” Instead of finishing that thought, Xander shoveled a heaping fork of food into his mouth and groaned, taking his sweet damn time while he chewed.
“Yeah, what’s that?” The truth was I was dying to hear any insight that would stop the ache in my chest, or get Joss to stop avoiding me.
A smile spread across his face as he continued to chew. “You’re in love with her.”
“I’m not.” It wasn’t possible. “I would know if I was in love. With Joss or anyone else.”
Mom laughed so hard she doubled over in her chair.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“I’m sorry Ben. You are intelligent and kind and caring, but you are oblivious when it comes to emotions. You didn’t cry about your father until I told you it was all right to do so.”
“I was trying to stay strong for you and the twins.” His death made me the man of the house and I had to hold it together while the rest of them fell apart.
“I know that, but it doesn’t change anything. You got no-string sex like you wanted.” She held up a finger, a clear sign this was a long list.
“Mom,” I groaned.
“Don’t deny the truth, certainly not to me. So, you got the no-strings sex even while you romanced her, though my guess is you didn’t even realize that.” She held up another finger. “You were upset when she ended things.” Another finger. “And without her, you’re miserable. Should I go on?”
