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MOM: I’m selling the house. Phil turned out to be a cheater. I need a massive change. Why do I pick men who devalue me?
BETTE: I’m so sorry. But why sell our house?
MOM: It’s time, honey. But I’d like for you to come help me clean it out. I know you’re in the middle of all the work stuff. And I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t important. There’s a cash offer on the house and I have to be out of here in a couple of days.
BETTE: It’s been on the market, and you didn’t tell me.
MOM: I was moving in with Phil and didn’t know how to tell you, so now I’m homeless because I broke up with him. And the house has to be vacated and I haven’t touched your father’s office. I thought you might want to investigate things. I was going to take all his stuff with me in boxes to Phil’s for you later.
BETTE: Mom, this is a conversation. I’ll call you in a minute.
Hayden must have seen my face and frustration.
“And I thought only I could give you that level of frustration. Is it a new frenemy you have a secret past with?”
I laugh and sip my coffee. “I have to call my mom. She sold our house and now she’s homeless.”
“Did she not know she’d need to leave the house if she sold?” He sits back, raises his arms above his head and laces his fingers together with his arms twisted, then stretches. He’s so bendy.
“I don’t know. She’s all upside down since Phil cheated on her, apparently. And I don’t know what I can do from here.” He scoots a chair closer to me and covers my hand with his. Then he kisses me. It’s slow and sweet. His lips are lush with a hint of wild. There’s no desperation, simply affirmation.
“What was that for?”
“Because I can.”
“Do it again.”
He draws me closer to him. Our kiss is more than tame but less than carnal. There’s a warm liquid sensation running through me. It’s like spilled warm honey oozing comfort into all my rough spots. I’m in so much trouble. I already love him. It’s going to slip out of my mouth and I’ll be mortified when I say it first. We’ll be uneven because no one survives the uneven love. The unreturned I love you weighs heavily on a couple, and I can’t have that. I’ll say nothing.
He pulls back from our sensual kiss and pecks my lips once more, like an exclamation point on the moment. My mouth pulls up at the corners and my biggest smile claims my face.
He holds my knees. “I’ve got this. Go. We have our concept. I have art to finish and we can work on it remotely. I’ll head to Boston to see Ma and Auntie J. I’ll visit, catch up with Dax, see my house, and finish up there. We can have work calls without avatars and personal calls without clothes.”
I laugh but it’s a bit hollow. I don’t know if I can step away from a project, but he’s making a compelling case. I have to try and trust him even though I’ve spent the past couple of years with my back up.
“I’ll be right here. You’re not losing me again. I know we don’t talk about it because we’re scared, but after the announcement, I have something I need to show you.”
“Bad?” I panic.
“Very good. I’m not going anywhere, no matter who gets this job.”
I grin. “Me neither. And after all we’ve learned about my dad, I really want to see what he did and said—”
“About how I’m THE best boyfriend. I’m sure there are lots of writings and emails about how I’m perfect for his daughter.”
I laugh. But then there’s a pause. I know it was meant to be playful. But I can’t help but roll the word off my tongue. “Boyfriend?”
“You prefer paramour?”
“Most definitely not.”
“Manfriend?” He grins and I mirror it. “Lover?”
“Bleck. Not lover.”
He tickles my stomach for a moment. We’re sitting so close in this restaurant. I can’t imagine what people think.
He raises a finger at me. “How about you just call me yours?”
