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“You know, it’s usually the kid that doesn’t want their parent to date someone new. Why aren’t you like a normal kid pitching a fit right now? Where’s the ‘this isn’t fair’ argument?”
“I’ve always been mature for my age.”
“Does that mean I can stop asking you to rinse off your dishes before they go in the dishwasher instead of having to remind you every day?” I ask. He scowls.
“See? This is exactly why you need a girlfriend. I need someone on my side, and Mom is too biased because she’s my mom.”
Beth watches us with a warm smile that shows she’s happy to be here with us, even if this is all we’re doing. I lift my glass to my lips and smile over the rim at her.
“What makes you think my imaginary girlfriend would take your side?” I ask him, darting my eyes just in time to catch him carefully pulling a bottle of blue Gatorade out of the fridge. “There’s no way that you have a blue Gatorade in your hand. You wouldn’t dare try and swipe my flavour, right?”
He gulps and slowly puts it back in the fridge before pulling out a different bottle. “Blue? No. This is orange, old man.”
Beth shakes her head. “You are both ridiculous.”
“Not ridiculous. Just particular about my sports drinks,” I mutter.”
“More like greedy.” Cooper sniffs. “Maybe a girlfriend could teach you how to share.”
I groan. “Enough about a girlfriend, okay? Let me focus on spoiling and embarrassing you with my love.”
Beth smacks a palm on the counter. I jolt in surprise, whipping my head to stare at her. Mischief taints her smile. “I nearly forgot to ask what’s going on with you and that red-headed woman from the store? Is she the reason you’re so against the idea of getting a girlfriend?” She gasps, covering her hand with her mouth. “Are you dating her?”
I ignore most of what she says, fixating on one thing. My voice is low with a warning when I say, “Her name is Scarlett, not ‘that red-headed woman.’”
Beth’s eyes bulge, and it’s Cooper that speaks next. “We’ll take that reaction as a yes.”
I shut my eyes and take a deep breath. Frustration builds and builds beneath my skin, but it isn’t only from their relentless poking. It’s also from the flapping sensation in my stomach at the idea of Scarlett and girlfriend being used in the same sentence. Not good. At. All.
“Oh my God,” Beth says. Her open mouth does little to hide her surprise. “You do like her. I swore I felt the connection between you two but thought maybe I was just making things up. Holy crap.”
I narrow my eyes. “Why are you both acting as if me liking a woman is some unbelievable idea? I’m incredibly offended right now.”
“So you do like her?” Cooper asks smugly.
“He does,” Beth answers for me. They high-five over the island.
I throw my hands up. “I’m not talking about this anymore.”
“Because we’re right.” Cooper initiates another high-five.
“Because my love life is my business and not yours,” I correct him.
He doesn’t drop it. “And because we’re right.”
“Cooper,” I huff.
“Fine,” he sighs, dragging out the word. “But in case you were wondering, I think she’s nice. I haven’t met a bad person that likes both my favourite flavours of ice cream.”
“And how many of those people have you met in your whole twelve years of life?” I counter.
His glare is sharp. “Tons.”
“Who, pray tell, are those ‘tons’?”
“Adam,” Beth interrupts with a giggle. “How long until dinner?”
I raise a brow as if to ask if this is her way of changing the subject.
