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“You were eating a massive bowl of cereal when I left to jump in the shower. I’ve told you too many times about my sweets, CJ. I take them very seriously.”
He laughs and opens his car door, before quickly turning back and kissing me. “Yeah, but if I didn’t, I wouldn’t witness how cute and sexy you are when you’re mad.”
I want to growl, but the heat in his eyes stops me, and before I know it he’s walking around the car and opening my door. I’m just stepping out of the car when the front door opens. A woman who appears to be in her twenties—but I know is in her late-thirties—is standing in the doorway. When her gaze lands on CJ, they light up, and a smile, just like her son’s, spreads across her face.
She is so much like him. I didn’t know what to expect, but I’m glad he has more of her attributes than his dad’s. The thought of her having to see him every time she looked at CJ kind of troubled me. I don’t know what I would have done or how I would have reacted had I been in her shoes.
She’s got a dark tan, like CJ, and the same dark brown eyes and glossy black hair. She’s beautiful—very exotic-looking.
She rushes towards us and we meet her halfway. As soon as she’s close enough, CJ drops my hand and wraps his arms around his mum’s tiny waist. She leans up on her toes, clinging to his neck.
“CJ, I’ve missed you so much.”
She pulls back and kisses both of his cheeks. He blushes, and I notice he avoids my gaze. I’m grinning, all too happy to see him squirm. “I was here last week, Mum.”
“Too long.” She swats his shoulder lightly before her beautiful dark eyes turn to me. I shift nervously under her appraisal, feeling my breathing pick up. I open my mouth to greet her, but no sound escapes. Before I know what’s happening, I’m wrapped up in her arms, engulfed in a hug.
Not wanting to be rude, I hug her back, feeling warmth from the woman in front of me. She’s so much the opposite of my own mum, and it’s then I realise there was another reason for my nervousness: deep down, I was afraid she would be just like her. No matter how much I tried to get my mum to love me, she just wouldn’t?or couldn’t.
“You are so beautiful,” she tells me, before sending a disapproving frown at CJ. “CJ, you never said she was this beautiful.” Her bright eyes and smile turn to me. “I’m Milly, by the way.”
I smile, feeling my cheeks heat at her calling me beautiful. “I’m Allie.”
“Um, yeah I did. I said she was hot as fuck and smart as hell,” CJ adds, interrupting us.
She tuts at her son before wrapping her arm over my shoulder and guiding me into their home. “Ignore my son. Come, let’s eat so I can get to know you.”
“Thank you. It’s lovely to finally meet you, Milly.”
She beams at me as we step inside her kitchen. There’s a table placed by the windows that looks out over her garden, and she gestures for me to take a seat. I’m too anxious to take a real nose, so I pay attention to Milly.
“You too, Allie. My son talks about you a lot.”
He does?
“I’m starving. Is the food ready?” CJ asks as he takes a seat at the table. His mum sits across from us, eyeing her son with love as she feigns annoyance.
She turns to me, rolling her eyes. “I don’t think he’s ever not hungry.”
I give her a mischievous smile. “About that… Have you ever gotten him checked for worms? He doesn’t stop eating, and I’m not sure where it’s going. It’s kind of worrying.”
CJ opens his mouth but his mum holds her hand up, stopping him. “Do not use crude words in this house, CJ. I know what your explanation is going to be.”
“But it’s true,” he boasts.
Confused, I glance over at him. “What are you talking about?”
He lowers his gaze down at his lap, wiggling his eyebrows. “That’s where it goes, Cupcake.”
My mouth drops open and he begins to laugh. “I can’t even—”
“CJ!” His mum narrows her eyes at him, but they soften when they turn their way back to me. “And, Allie, to answer your question, I have. The school even called social services a few times because they were afraid I wasn’t feeding him. He’d eat not only his school lunch, but other students’ lunch too.”
My eyes widen in shock. Slowly, I face CJ. “You didn’t?”
He shrugs, unable to meet my gaze. “I was a growing boy,” he stammers.
“They did say it was normal.”
