AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I see familiar faces through the foyer, leading to the outside deck. He stops in the entrance, all modern, something my mom loves—modern minimalistic. I think it’s why I love my loft.
His eyes turn to a wall full of pictures. Almost all of them are me and Liam. “Wow, look at baby Noah. You were cute, even then.”
“Noah, buddy!” The loud, booming voice startles Ashton, but I know that voice anywhere.
“Hey, Dad.”
Ashton leans into me. “I guess you come by scaring people naturally.”
My dad doesn’t hear him, but barrels toward me, his large arms ready for a hug. “Come here, son. Oh, it’s so good to see you. I guess we have this one to blame for keeping you busy.”
My dad extends his hand. “Carl James. It’s nice to meet the first guy my son has ever brought home. Welcome to our house.”
My father and I have the same build. Over the years, he has shrunk a little, but he’s well over six feet tall and still has his whole head of hair. Whereas my looks favor my mom, my stature is all from Dad.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. James.”
“Oh, hogwash. Mr. James is my father. Please call me Carl.”
My parents are a good fifteen years older than Caitlyn Brooks, having Liam and me at thirty-four years old.
“It’s nice to meet you, Carl. And thanks for having me.”
“You’re welcome.” He looks over my shoulder. “Do you know where your brother is? You’re already late, and your mother is having an absolute fit, so…”
I wave him off. He doesn’t have to say anything else. “No, I don’t. Last I heard he’d be here by one to help you guys out.”
“Go find your mom. I’ll call your twin before she can send out a search party.”
My eyes reach Ash’s, silently saying,I told you she was a lot.
I hold his hand, swinging through the kitchen to grab us both beers before we head outside, and to my mother.
We’re one step on the porch, when my mom’s eyes catch sight of me. “Noah James! I’ve been worried.” Ashton stands behind me and she rushes toward us. I tug Ashton from behind where he stands, and my mother stops in her tracks, mid hug, and stares at Ash like he’s grown two heads.
“Um, Mom, you okay?” I ask, but Ash extends his hand to my mother.
“I’m Ashton Brooks, Mrs. James. It’s wonderful to meet you. Noah has told me so much about you.
My mother stands just shy of five feet eleven inches, with the same olive complexion as mine. But her face drains of color, and she looks from me, back to Ash, not extending her hand.
“Mom, you okay?” I ask again. She stays like this, as everyone in the back yard, at least twenty people, watch her. “Mom, hey. What’s up? You okay?” She still doesn’t answer me. This is not like Evelyn James, and the top of my head breaks out in sweat with concern.
She blinks her eyes, focusing her attention on me. “Oh, I’m so sorry, son. I just got a little dizzy. You know how I get sometimes. Let me just splash some water on my face, and I’ll be right back.” She starts to go, but stops in front of Ash.
“Ashton, I’m so very sorry. Excuse me for just a second. It was nice to meet you.”
She walks around us, and I’m dumbfounded by her reaction. Mom could host picnics, barbecues, and dinner parties in her sleep.
“Should I be concerned that she doesn’t like me?” Ash only half teases.
“No, baby. That’s just my mom being a little extra.” I don’t know how to explain it to Ash, so I leave it at that.
* * *
“It’s weird, right?”I whisper to Liam, trying to keep my voice down when Ash uses the bathroom thirty minutes later. Mom is still MIA, and I’m attempting to explain her weird reaction to him.
“You two look a lot alike. I mean, it was the first thing I noticed when I met Ash. Maybe she just was taken aback. I’ve heard of sons dating women—or in your case men—like their moms, but never someone who looks more like you than me, your twin.”
