Page 54 of Last First Kiss

“Who cares if she works at the CDC? Big deal.” Cheryl huffs, hands on her hips. “I heard they’re the ones creating that new flu strain going around Atlanta. Chemical warfare is what it is. I don’t trust our government.”

Javi throws a hand over his mouth. From the bounce of his shoulders, he’s trying hard not to laugh.

“Mom, they didnot—”

Cheryl cuts him off again. “She’s old news anyway. Already forgotten.” She looks thoughtfully at the ceiling. “I’m gonna have to reach out to Madame Lorraine again.”

“The psychic you don’t believe in?” Jordan reminds her.

“Yes, son. Like I just said—Madame Lorraine, your auntie Eva’s psychic.”

Jordan forces himself not to roll his eyes.

Cheryl procures her phone from out of nowhere like one of thoseNow You See Memagicians. She starts scrolling. “Herprediction said you’d fall in love with a woman whose name starts with a—”

“Actually,” Jordan interrupts, his voice pitched too high. He almost knocks over his smoothie, clicking his computer monitor awake. “I haveso muchto do for the McClintock wedding—”

“Jor-Bear, this’ll only take a second.”

“Mom,” he strains.

Javi is watching their exchange way too closely.

Nervous sweat itches against Jordan’s hairline. “This isn’t necessary.”

“Yes, it is,” Cheryl disputes. “You’re a Carter. A single, handsome, well-established Black man who any woman wouldsnatchup—”

“Yes, Jor-Bear,” Javi says, amused. “Listen to her.”

Cheryl perks up. “Thank you! I knew I liked you, Javier. Even though you worked for the enemy.”

“Oh, it’s Jav—”

“Now let’s see,” Cheryl carries on, ignoring Javi’s mild protest. She eyes her phone screen. “I have a Jade. A Jayla. Jessie. Joan—oh, no, she’s at least fifty. You’re not into cougars, are you?”

Jordan face-palms, holding in a scream.

“Josie. Journee,” Cheryl lists. “Joyce—wait, she might be married. We don’t need that kind of scandal. There’s Jules. Juno. Hmm, scratch that. Juno might be a guy—”

“Mom!”

Jordan abruptly leaps from his chair. His knee catches the edge of his desk, finally knocking over his smoothie. Fortunately, the lid is secure. The last thing he needs is a mango-banana mess to clean up. Or more blind dates.

He stands the smoothie upright. His mom and Javi stare at him with startled eyes. Like he’s an off-the-leash feral dog and they’re not sure if he’ll bite.

Good.

“I need to focus,” Jordan says. “No distractions until after the McClintock wedding.”

Cheryl’s mouth puckers. “Son, one date can’t hurt. What about work-life balance?”

Jordan considers chugging the rest of his smoothie. You can be hospitalized for severe brain freeze, right?

The universe must hear his desperation. His phone lights up with a new calendar notification.

A smile unrolls across his mouth.

“Speaking of—I have a very important appointment to keep.”