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“This app is for books.”
“I don’t need those.” Mom shakes her head and waves her hand in clear disinterest.
“Are you sure?” Zach arches an eyebrow before grinning mischievously.
Mom’s eyes widen and suddenly he has her full interest. I don’t really know what Zach does for a living, but given his convincing skills, I’ve no doubt he’s killing it.
“Ray, buddy, why don’t you watchArthurfor a while.” Zach hands his phone and earbuds to my son.
My mouth falls open when, without missing a beat, Ray enters the code to unlock Zach’s phone and starts his show.
Don’t most men hate when kids touch their phones?
My attention is pulled from Ray hearing Mom’s gasp.
On the screen is a book-reading app filled with steamy, sensual men mostly bare-chested on the book covers. Zach scrolls down and there are couples, sometimes even threesomes or more. My face heats up as he looks between us, and my heart pitter-patters at the knowledge that he personalized it to Mom’s taste.
“What were you saying?” Zach smirks at Mom.
“What’s this?” Mom asks in a croaky voice filled with wonder.
“This is what’s trending these days among vivacious ladies like you, Gigi.” Zach grins at her and then motions toward the iPad screen. “There are even online groups to discuss these books and find like-minded friends.”
“That totally makes sense, boy.” Mom is enchanted by Zach’s magic. She takes the iPad from him and clicks on a book cover of an older man. She runs her hands on his short hair, down to his stubble, further lower to his naked chest.
Jeez! My cheeks feel hot as Mom runs her fingers over a man’s naked chest.
“This is the best gift, young man.” Her voice sounds husky and unfamiliar.
“Mom,” I say in a squeaky voice. “Let’s eat dinner.”
She clears her throat and looks at me. For the first time in many years, her eyes hold the usual mischief they used to when I was much younger and Dad was still with us. I’ll never acknowledge it out loud, but right this minute I say a small thank-you to God for Zach’s presence in our living room tonight.
An hour later, I tell Ray, “Wish good night to your prince, munchkin. He needs to leave for his castle.” But my message is for both of them. I have such a hard time understanding the unhappy lines on Zach’s gorgeous face every time I ask him to leave.
I’m wiping the table when I hear Ray whispering to Zach, “I’ll ask her if you can sleep over someday. We can play board games all night.”
I’m about to throw this man out when he says, “Yeah, yeah. I’m leaving.” I turn around to find a huge smile on his face as he ruffles Ray’s hair and kisses Mom’s cheek before mouthing me a good night and rushing out the door.
Mom snickers. “He makes me believe we’re irresistible.”
I shake my head at her comment. I don’t believe that at all, but I also have no clue what’s the deal with Zach.
I bring Ray, who doesn’t look a tiny bit tired, to his room and put him to bed. Tonight, it’s going to be a long bedtime reading, I can already feel it. I grab Ray’s storybook and hear Mom moving around in the living room. She’s too stoked about her iPad to fall asleep. With a smile on my face, I start reading to Ray.
We’re in the middle of the story about a dragon king, when I hear Mom’s cry.
I skid to the living room and my heart leaps to my throat at the sight of her lying on the floor near the dining table.
“Mom!”
Her eyes remain closed and her legs are stretched in a weird angle. Beside her on the floor lies the new iPad.
“Mom!” My dry mouth calls her again, but she doesn’t move. My hands shiver as I try to shake her but get no response. I place my ear close to her heart, and thank God, she’s breathing. Ray lifts the iPad and places it on the table with the broken screen facing upward.
“Ray, get my phone.” I run to the kitchen to fetch some water. Once back, I throw some drops on Mom’s face, but she doesn’t respond.
Grabbing my phone from Ray’s hand, I dial 9-1-1 while chanting in my head,Mom, be okay, please.
