Page 49 of Playing With Forever

“No, Evan.”

“Your gentleman caller’s name is Evan?”

“Gah!”

I stomped into the bathroom and slammed the door behind me.

“Hope you don’t mind, but she’s a door slammer,” I heard Kane tell Evan.

I tossed my bra into the sink, curled my fingers under the edge of the vanity, and stared at myself in the mirror. No, not stared, I studied myself. From my shoulder-length bob that needed a trim to the blonde that had, by some miracle, remained my natural color, to my blue eyes that right then looked like they were in shock, to the pink blotches all over my chest, down to my breasts that were no longer perky but still full, then down to my rounded belly.

When my gaze traveled back up and I caught my own eyes in the mirror, I couldn’t stop the hysterical bubble of laughter that came forth.

Fifty-two and busted by my son.

“Oh my God,” I wheezed.

I was still laughing when Evan came in fully dressed with an armful of clothes.

“Get dressed, Josie.”

He set my clothes on the counter, picked up my bra out of the basin, and handed it to me. Evan waited until my bra was on and I was safely in last night’s jeans before he started brushing his teeth. I had my shirt on by the time he was rinsing. He shoved his toothbrush in the holder next to mine, yanked out mine, handed it to me, then gently tugged me in front of the sink. When I was loading it full of toothpaste, he disappeared behind the separate toilet area.

I brushed by rote, rinsed, spit, dried my mouth, and left the bathroom. I had yet to decide what to do when Evan came out, tagged my hand, and pulled me to the door.

He paused long enough to tell me, “Everything’s gonna be fine.”

Nothing was fine.

This was a total disaster, and if Evan and I went the distance, this story would be told at every holiday meal.

Hey, DJ, remember when I caught Mamalious and her man in bed?

I knew my son, I knew that was exactly what he’d say, and poor Lindy would have to hear about her father being caught in my bed.

We hit the dining room when I heard Kane saying, “Don’t know. They’re still in there.”

I sighed, knowing Kane was on the phone with his brother. My son heard my exhale, turned, then froze.

Evan said nothing as my son gave him a thorough and very obvious once-over.

“Age appropriate,” he announced to DJ. “Taller than Mom. Built. Holding her hand.” Kane paused, then said, “Yeah, will FaceTime you after breakfast.”

Kane set his phone on the counter, transferred his gaze to me, and smiled. “Surprise.”

“Indeed.”

“Oh, shit, she’s using her uppity voice she’s pissed.”

“She’s also standing right here,” I snapped. “While I love a visit from my baby boy any time he’ll come home and visit his mom, a call would’ve been nice.”

“Yeah, well, I’ve never had to call before because there’s never been a strange man sleeping with my…” Kane’s face scrunched. “Nope, I can’t say it.”

“It’s good to know the Sheriff’s department down in Camden County prioritizes maturity.”

My son flashed me a smile that never failed to warm my heart.

“Kane, this is Evan Sanders. Evan, my son.”