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I shrugged, not admitting that my mom had shared that exact piece of news last night. “Good for her.” Even though she’d broken up with me, I didn’t want Emily to be unhappy. Since our relationship hadn’t made her happy, I was glad to hear this one did. I didn’t appreciate her riling up Thea, though. “You’re not codependent, Thea.”
“We,” she stressed, crossing her arms. “We’re codependent and that’s why you’ll never find happiness.”
I chuckled, rolling my eyes.
“I’m serious, Benny.”
“I’m serious, Thea.” I rounded the counter, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her flush against me. “You make me happy. And don’t let my ex, of all people, tell you otherwise.” The edge of her lips worked their way up as her shoulders loosened. I rubbed my thumb over her forearm. “Now, I will go to this Singles Ball so you can enjoy a band you’ve never heard of and study the architecture, but I’m only doing it for you. No one else.”
She dropped her head onto my shoulder, melting into me. I closed my eyes. Thea would come around. She’d realized we should be together. Just not today.
“Come on.” I squeezed her shoulder and let her go. “Before Mom and Dad get worried we’re blowing them off.”
* * *
We entered my parent’s house to the smell of lasagna and an undercurrent of jazz. Mom’s off-key warbling echoed through the house.
“On time?” Mom’s eyes widened. “And with food, too?”
“Just a salad,” Thea said with a grin, setting the bowl on the countertop and taking off her coat.
“Well, isn’t that a welcome surprise? Your father’s going to be disappointed he doesn’t have time for a quick nap, though.”
“A nap?” I laughed.
“I’m not joking,” Mom said, rolling her eyes as she stirred the cast iron pan on the oven. “Your dad has taken to a ten-minute nap for lunch and a twenty-minute nap after work. He swears he feels more rested and sleeps less at night. But he’s just getting old.”
“Well, by the looks of that timer,” Thea said, nodding toward the microwave timer with nearly thirty minutes left on it. “He’ll have plenty of time.”
“You should have warned me you’d be on time. I’m not equipped for it.” Mom turned on the oven light, peering in to check on the tray of rolls. “Ben, pour us a glass of wine.” She waved toward the wine rack.
I rotated the half-dozen bottles until I spotted a merlot, Thea and Mom’s favorite.
“So, Thea, I heard from Tammy that you had a couple at the store yesterday looking to buy.”
Thea rolled her eyes. “Tammy eavesdropped on a private conversation between Warren and I. But, yeah, I’m entertaining offers on the store.”
“That’s a shame.” Mom frowned and took a sip of her wine.
Thea shook her head. “It’s for the best. I kept it open for Mrs. Evans mostly, but now that she’s gone, I’d just as soon sell the building. Owning a thrift store wasn’t exactly my passion.”
“What about your clothing?” Mom asked, stirring a fragrant pan full of sizzling veggies.
Thea slid into a seat at the table, angled toward Mom. “Nothing is happening to my clothing line. I don’t really need all the space, and Main Street doesn’t need another empty storefront.”
“That’s a good point.” Mom exhaled, fingers wrapped around the wineglass stem. “You’re not moving, right?”
Thea chuckled. “Is that the rumor Tammy is spreading around town?”
“She seems to think you’re liquidating,” Mom admitted sheepishly.
I shot Thea a sideways glance. She shrugged in response.
“Absolutely not. I’m planning to rent at a spot by the tattoo parlor. Todd Grant moved his office into his house to save on overhead. I’d fit in better there, anyway.”
“With the artists?” Mom teased.
“Exactly. Besides, the couple who toured the building seemed nice. Well, the wife did anyway. She’s a candy maker.”
