Page 32 of Love Overdose: St. Louis

I hadn’t made it fully through her front door. One foot remained on the porch, my purse hung from my shoulder, and the overnight bag I’d brought for Malik yesterday sat near the stairs.

“What?” I asked.

Amelia folded her arms over her housecoat. “Come inside so I can look at you.”

“You’re looking at me now.”

“I need better light.”

“Oh, Lord.”

I stepped into the foyer, and she pushed the door closed behind me. Morning sunlight spilled through the living room windows, exposing every inch of my face while she studied it. Her eyes moved from my freshly combed pixie cut to my cheeks, then settled on my mouth.

“Uh-huh.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means you’re glowing.”

“I moisturized.”

“That isn’t moisturizer.”

She walked around me and I turned with her. “Why are you circling me?”

“I’m inspecting.”

“You need a hobby.”

“I have one. You.”

“Find another one.”

She stopped in front of me and smiled. “How was the date?”

“It was nice.”

“What did you do?”

“We had dinner with his family.”

“On the first date?”

“Technically, it was our second date. We met before that.”

“Hmm… How was the family?”

I smiled, thinking back. “They were a warm, loud, and hilarious bunch. His aunts own Soulful, so the food was excellent, and his dad is a comedian.”

“Did they like you?”

“Of course they did, honey, what’s not to like?” I said, twirling dramatically.

My mother’s smile widened, then she laughed. “And did the doctor like you?”

I bent to retrieve Malik’s bag. “You already know he does.”

“I know something happened. You didn’t have that shine on your face when you dropped my grandbaby off.”