Page 67 of Hometown Hottie

32

CARSON

Back at my mom’s house after leaving the lake early myself, I looked down at my phone. Nova hadn’t answered my call, but I figured she was busy on the ranch. They had come home early for a reason, after all, so I didn’t think too much of it.

Firing off a quick text instead, I asked her if we could talk soon. Then I looked up as my mom walked into the living room. “Hey, baby boy. How was the weekend?”

I got up and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “It was great, thanks. How was the BBQ?”

Mom laughed and patted her stomach. “I probably won’t eat again until Independence Day, but it was worth it. I thought you were driving back in the morning?”

“We were going to, but I took Vance’s truck. He’ll come back with the girls tomorrow. I guess I’m all laked out for now.”

“Laked out?” she asked as she lowered her head to one side, her gaze sweeping across my face like she knew something else was going on. “It looks more like lucked out to me.”

“What do you mean?”

She smiled, chuckling as she inclined her head toward the kitchen. “I think you lucked out by finding a girl you’re smitten with, and you being home early has something to do with her. You know, I saw the Murphys at the BBQ. They mentioned Nova and Ryan arriving home this morning. This wouldn’t happen to have anything to do with that, right?” She grinned and pulled a jug of homemade iced tea out of the fridge.

I rolled my eyes. “You don’t have to look so delighted about it. I’m not smitten.”

She barked a laugh. “I know you, darling. I can see those stars in your eyes, and as it happens, I know exactly who put them there. Tell me about her. Did something happen this weekend? Are you two seeing each other now?”

“Nope. I saw Nova this weekend, if that’s what you mean, but there’s nothing to get excited about.” I was lying through my teeth, but I’d always been pretty good about keeping my mouth shut when I needed to, and right now, I needed to.

Mom was already so invested in the idea of Nova and me getting together. Since Nova had apparently stopped taking my calls—maybe, anyway—this didn’t seem like a good time to get Mom even more excited about it.

She exhaled deeply through her nostrils, staring at me with narrowed eyes before she filled a glass for each of us. “Now why don’t I believe that?”

“I don’t know, but it’s true. Vance is trying his luck with one of Nova’s friends, so we saw them around a couple times, but that’s it, Mom.”

Well, that, and I think I might want to marry her, but hey, whatever.I jolted as that thought ran unbidden through my mind. Marry her? What the fuck, man?

Mom lifted an eyebrow at me, then shook her head and seemed to accept that I wasn’t going to give her the details she was after. “I ran into Coach Mason at the grocery store this morning.”

“You did?” I grinned, glad for the change of subject but also genuinely interested in hearing about how the high school football coach was doing. “How is he? I haven’t seen him for years. The last few times I’ve gone to the school, he hasn’t been around.”

“He’s always so busy,” she said. “He’s good, though. We talked about you.”

I shrugged and smirked at her. “I figured. What’s not to talk about? I’m one of his greatest success stories.”

She chuckled. “I love you, my dear boy, and you’re absolutely one of his success stories, but let’s check that ego a bit. You’re in your mother’s house. I changed your diapers not so long ago.”

I laughed. “It’s been a few years, but I get it. Always keeping me humble. Thanks, Mom. Why did Coach talk about me, then? If you weren’t bragging and he wasn’t either, why bring me up at all?”

“Well, he’s putting on a summer camp for football and he mentioned he could use a hand. I told him I’d ask you if you’d be willing to help out.”

A different kind of excitement than what I’d been feeling about Nova zapped through me now. “That’s right up my alley. I’ll talk to him tomorrow after I’m done at the library. That could be fun.”

“He’ll be grateful,” she said cheerfully, handing over my iced tea before she slid her phone out of her pocket. “I’ve got a few calls of my own to make. Don’t stay up too late, baby.”

I chuckled. “Of course not, Mom. Wouldn’t want to stay up past my bedtime on a school night.”

Her laughter drifted out behind her as she walked to the living room. I headed to my bathroom, grabbed a quick shower, and got my laundry from the weekend done after. All night, I watched my phone but I didn’t hear back from Nova.

In the morning, when I still hadn’t heard from her, I finally started getting a little bit anxious. Needing to work off the excess energy coursing through me, I drove down to the gym and found Vance already there.

He grinned when he saw me. “Guess what?”