Page 159 of Lucky Mother Pucker

“She seems comfortable here,” Mom says, her tone soft. “I’m so glad.”

“Yeah, she does.”

A warm feeling settles in my chest. And then I picture next Thanksgiving with Lucy here again, laughing and joking around with my family.

I want that.

“How long has it been?” Mom asks.

I glance down at my mom. “How long has what been?”

Her smile is knowing as she looks at me. “How long have you and Lucy been more than friends?”

My brow lifts, shocked at what she just said…and that fact that she figured it out.

“Um, we’re not…” I clear my throat. “We’re just friends, Mom. And roommates. Nothing more.”

I’m not about to tell my mom what we’re really doing.

But she just laughs. “Oh, honey. I know I’m from a different generation, and I don’t understand half of what kids your age say or do. But I know that look when I see it.”

“What look?”

“That look on your face. You stare at her like she’s the only thing in this room worth looking at. It’s so sweet. And it’s a dead giveaway that she’s more than just your friend and roommate.”

I shove my hands in my pockets and look down at the floor, hoping she doesn’t notice the hot flush creeping up my cheeks. I wasn’t planning on getting called out by my mom for my feelings for Lucy.

She gently pats my shoulder. “It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me. I know it’s not cool for a guy your age to talk to his mom about his dating life. Just know that I can see how happy she makes you. And that makes me really happy.”

“Thanks, Mom. It’s…we’re…” I huff out a breath. I’m not about to tell my mom the details about my friends-with-benefits arrangement with Lucy. But I don’t want to lie to her.

“We’re just having fun,” I say.

She nods, still smiling. She looks like she wants to say something, but then her phone buzzes. She pulls it out of her pocket, then looks at the screen. Her smile fades, and her expression turns serious.

“You okay?” I ask.

She nods and takes a breath. “Your father is dropping by later.”

All the muscles in my neck and shoulder tense instantly. “Why?” My tone is hard.

“Because I invited him.”

I clench my jaw, annoyed and angry. “How come?”

“Because I didn’t want him to spend Thanksgiving alone, Leo.”

I shake my head and glance off to the side. “You’re too good to him, Mom. He doesn’t deserve you.” I glance around at her crowded house. “You don’t have to take care of him anymore. That’s not your job.”

She lets out a heavy sigh. “I know that.”

“He’s a grown man. He can make his own plans for Thanksgiving,” I mutter. I look around at the crowded house. Half the people here are my dad’s relatives. They’d rather spend the holiday with my mom than with him because she’s warm and welcoming and kind and a million times more fun to be around.

She touches my arm. “I understand how you feel. I understand why you’re upset. You have every right to be mad at your dad. He’s always been so hard on you. Even when I told him you needed a loving father, not a hockey coach, he didn’t listen.” Her big brown eyes turn misty. She blinks the tears away. “I’m so sorry for that.”

I feel myself soften seeing her get so emotional. I hug her. “You don’t need to apologize for him.”

“I tried to reason with him so many times. I tried to tell him to be more supportive and softer with you. He just wouldn’t listen.”