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“I’m starving,” Aria admits as we slip into the sitting room.
“Why aren’t you feeding her, Rex?” Ma chastises, swatting the back of my head as she passes behind the couch we sink into.
“Ow!” My hand goes to the ache, my scowl aimed at the back of Ma’s head.
“Don’t give me that look, Rex.” She disappears into the kitchen without actually seeing me give her the fucking look. “And what’s wrong with Macaroni?” she calls from the kitchen, clangs and bangs enunciating her words.
“Dunno, Ma,” I call back, my arm sliding around the back of the couch, anything to be as close as I can to Aria.
“Why the fuck didn’t you tell me?” She whisper hisses between Ma’s loud cooking.
“So you wouldn’t freak out.” I shrug, because to me it makes sense. Aria is an overthinker and does best when she doesn’t have time to obsess about shit.
“But I look like a hooker! Not the girl next door you bring home to your mother!” She’s still hissing at me, smacking at my chest when Ma comes back around the corner, a tray of sweet tea in hand.
“Thirsty, kids?” Ma offers the tray to us and I snag a fresh glass of sun tea and down the shit in one go.
“Fuck, I missed that.” I wipe my mouth on the back of my hand and set the empty glass on the table before Ma can even leave the room again.
“Mouth.”
“Yes, Ma.” I respond with a roll to my eyes.
“Not you, baby.” Her head pops around the corner, armed with a wooden spoon aimed right at my girl, the deadly Mom stare directed next to me. “I heard that bullshit you said about yourself and I’m not having any of that in this house. Do you understand me, young lady?”
Aria straightens under my arm, her nod quick. “Yes, Ma’am.”
“You’re gorgeous.” Ma’s head disappears along with her wooden spoon, and Aria relaxes under my arm. “And clearly my boy loves you. That’s enough for me.” She continues from somewhere in the kitchen where the fresh scent of herbs and spices begin to waft from.
“Whoa,” Aria whispers beside me and I tear my sight from the doorway to find her hand against her forehead.
“Babe?” I turn in my seat and pull the appendage from her face, concern furrowing my brow.
Maybe it was too much to bring her.
“I’m ok.” She smiles at me, but something keeps it from reaching her eyes. “It’s just … wow. How much have you told her about me already?” Aria swallows hard, her throat bobbing along with the motion.
I shake my head and weave our fingers together in her lap.
“Nada. Ma’s just that good.” I grin for her and place a gentle kiss on the tip of her nose.
“Damn right, I am,” Ma says from behind me and I look over my shoulder to find her with another tray. “Perks of being a mom to twins. You learn real quick you gotta know them better than they know each other.” She places the tray of biscuits, more than likely made from scratch, on the coffee table next to my empty glass and the one Aria has left untouched.
“I guess that makes sense.” Aria nods, getting her feet under her, she searches my face for something I can’t name but comes up with a matching smile.
“I’m certain my babies weren’t trying to set you up, dear.” Ma settles in the matching floral chais across from us and crosses her legs like she’s some kind of proper lady.
She can be when she needs to.
She’s also savage as fuck.
“Thank you, ma’am. I don’t mean to think ill of your kids.” Aria pauses to take me in for a moment before returning Ma’s gaze.
“You’re just not used to it.” Ma finishes with a knowing nod. “Took me a while to get used to it as well, dear.”
Ma taps her knee and goes to stand.
“Thanks, Ma.”
