Page 58 of The Star in Room 7

She shrugs.

“Mom.”

“I keep expecting you to bring a boyfriend home.”

I chuckle. “Not today.”

“Are you seeing anyone?”

My breathing hitches.

Mom stares at me intently. “You are,” she concludes.

“Sort of. It’s early days.”

Are Zach and I dating? Not that we’ve been able to go on any actual dates. The day at the beach doesn’t count. That was before we kissed. Before he asked me to be his Daddy.

“Why didn’t you bring him to meet us?”

“As I said, it’s early days. Besides, I didn’t want to scare him off,” I tease.

She waves her hand at me and clucks her tongue. “There’s more to it than that.”

I sigh. Mom has always been very shrewd. I swear I get my observational skills from her. She’d have made an amazing agent when she was younger. Nothing gets past her.

“He’s a private person,” I say carefully.

“He’s in the closet.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to.” She sighs and shakes her head. “It’ll end in tears, Nathanial.”

Uh-oh. She’s using my full name. I’m in trouble.

“Probably yours,” she adds. “He won’t come out for you.”

“I wouldn’t ask him to.”

“And you can’t climb in the closet for anyone.”

“I don’t intend to.”

“Then why are you fooling about with this man?”

“That’s all it is, Mom.” Liar, liar. “We’re having fun.” That’s true. “We’re not about to get married.” Also true.

“No, and you’ll never be able to. You’re more sensible than this.”

“I’m not sure I’m sensible at all.”

She gives me a withering look.

I put my hands up. “Try not to worry, Mom.”

“I always worry. I’m your mom. It’s my job.” She stabs the fork into the dirt and rocks onto her heels. “What kind of a life can you have with a man who’s too afraid to be himself?”

“I told you⁠—”