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With the Texas humidity and my pent-up energy, I’ve already changed shirts twice. I haven’t even seen my mother, the only positive aspect of coming to this manicured, polished, sprawling cesspool I call home.
I escape from the last meeting in the study and change from a dress shirt into a long dri-fit golf shirt and golf pants as well. I look in the mirror.Toolbag.Still, it’s too hot for anything else and everyone will be in short sleeves. Some maybe even in khaki shorts. It’s fine.
I get the text from Ric that he is pulling in with Eleanna. I don’t know if she protested not being picked up like a date, but I don’t care. Duty will call, often, and she’ll have to roll with it.
I make my way down to the big porch. The main house is a wood and stone ranch-style monstrosity that they’ve updated again and again. It’s a beautiful home, I just happen to hate it. The circle drive is filled with cars and people arriving. All of whom I give my best golden boy welcome to. Everyone gushes and wants to chat but I do a stellar job of getting them to hustle inside. And away from me.
I wrap up some good-to-see-you-bullshit as I notice Ric’s town car pull up. I nod at one of my parent’s neighbors talking about getting together soon. It’s uncanny how effective it is to simply say the same thing back to someone, using different words. They think I love them. The guy pats me on the shoulder and I grit through my smile. Finally they leave and I turn to greet—
Fuck me dead.
I do like redheads.
She colored her hair.
My dick is suddenly joining this party and I have to school my features. Not because she’s gorgeous or because I need to get laid. This woman learned that I like red hair and then fucking dyed. Her. Hair. For. Me.
I have got to stop this.
Our world is going to chew her up and spit her out in broken pieces.
I am. I’m going to be the one to break her if she doesn’t snap out of this.
“Mark?” She smiles up at me.Shit, I was staring.
I give her the same charming grin as everyone else and notice she has a gift in her hand.
“What’s this?”
“It’s your mother’s birthday tomorrow.”
I raise a brow. “So it is. And you got her what?”
“A succulent.”
I gesture for her to head inside. Her dress is a nautical looking sundress thing that looks like something my mother would wear. I’m glad, and irked, that she followed my instructions. Until she passes me. The thing is fucking backless. I mean there are teeny little straps but they hide nothing.
“So,” I say through a clenched smile, “You got my mother the most predictable and cheap gift you could think of, and you decided to dress like a hooker.” She laughs. She laughs at my irritation.This fucking girl.
“It’s a thousand degrees, Mark. And I look lovely.”
“Let’s hope my mother agrees.” Once inside I grab her wrist—which I notice again is cold, fragile and buttery soft—to keep her with me in the throngs of people. Only the entryway and sitting room are available to guests, leading them to the sliding glass doors that are open along the whole wall of the sitting area. We head out to the large back deck which is covered in tents and string lights, connected seamlessly to more lit tents on the lawn.
I startle as the band begins right by us. “Fuck!” A trumpet squeaks. “And it’s always big band Frank Sinatra bullshit.” I mutter under my breath.
“All our events are the same,” Eleanna says, now beside me.
“Just once, I want to hear one damn song from the last twenty years at one of these things.” She snickers at my scowl and I have to put my mask back in place. I do. Then my smile actually reaches my eyes when I see my mother.
“Mark!”
“Mother,” I lean in and kiss her cheek. She touches my face, but only for a second.
“Oh, I’ve missed you so.” My mother says, and she means it.
“Eleanna, Annabelle White. Mother, this is Eleanna Delgado.”
“Ellie, please, Mrs. White. It’s so great to finally meet you.”Ellie? Who the hell calls her Ellie?She extends her hand, but of course my mother goes in for a hug.
