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“We can wait until next week. We can try again,” I offer.
He drops his head on my shoulder. “No, because next week it may be Tia who is sick, or Liam. Let’s stick with our plan, and maybe by Sunday, we can share the news with Mom.”
“Will your sister keep this secret?” He swears Tia is the worst secret keeper.
“Ah, fuck. Okay, maybe we can FaceTime mom later and tell her.”
“Sounds like a plan.” I kiss his forehead, his nose, and then his lips. “I love you.”
“You better. You’re stuck with me for life.”
We’re quiet in our exchange, but I continue to hold him, because nothing seems as perfect as Ash in my arms.
“Can I come back into the kitchen or are you two boning near our dinner?”
“I wonder how he’s my brother sometimes,” I say out loud enough for him to hear me.
“Oh, please, your life would be so fucking boring without me in it.”
There’s a knock on the door. We’d asked my family to come before Ash’s mom and sister, so my mother could speak with him first.
“Let me get it,” Liam offers, making himself comfortable and useful in our home.
My mom walks in with an air of confidence, my dad behind her. My father is a big softie when it comes to my mother, but even he’s been embarrassed by her behavior.
“Oh, there are my boys.” She gives Liam a kiss on the cheek first, walking toward me, with Ash still in my arms.
“Hey sweetheart,” she greets, kissing my cheek just like Liam’s. “Ashton. It’s good to see you again.” She pauses for a brief second. “Ash, my dear, I’m so very sorry for the way I acted, the night of Noah’s premiere. It was wrong of me to treat you like that. Noah is an adult, and I raised him to make his own choices and decisions in his life. And it’s obvious you make him so very happy, which means, you make me happy too. Please forgive me.”
She reaches her arms toward Ash. I release him from my grip, and he embraces my mom. I’ve always known he’s a gentle and forgiving soul.
“It’s all water under the bridge, Mrs. James.”
“Oh, please call me Evelyn.”
And in that moment, when Ashton forgives my mom, I believe we all will be okay. But hope is a fickle fucker sometimes.
* * *
Tia boundsinto my apartment in her Tia way. “Fuck, this place is amazing.” It’s the first words out of her mouth, and my mom’s own mouth hangs open in utter shock.
“You invited the sexy anti-Christ?” Liam asks, whispering into my ear.
“I’m warning you, William. She’s off limits.” My caution comes out with a harshness in my tone.
Ashton stands up to greet his sister. “Sorry about my sister. She was dropped on her head a few too many times as a baby,” he says with a chuckle. Tia laughs, but my mother just continues to stare at her, as if she’s seen her before.
“We were hoping to introduce you to Ashton’s mom tonight, too, but she’s sick.”
“I’m the life of the party anyways.” She walks over to my mom and dad. “Nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. James. I’m Tiana, but most people call me Tia.”
Her eyes flick over to my brother. “Oh, hey, it’s the parking space stealer. Nice to see your rude ass again.”
My father and I snicker, but Liam simply smiles and winks at Tia.
Ashton is not as amused. “Tiana Frances.”
She shrugs her shoulders, taking a seat next to my mother, who can only stare at the crazy red head. But now we have two crazy redheads in the bunch, and they’re both feeding off of each other.
