AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Mom’s answering light laugh hinted at continued grief. “Yes. She was all you spoke about whenever I called you those first few months at college.”
“It’s the same with Sean. He walked into my class, our eyes met, and I was…smitten, Mom. Instantly enamored. It didn’t matter what lay beneath his clothing and still doesn’t even after getting to know him better. He’s…sunshine.” My voice cracked, so I shut up from waxing poetic about my student I was falling hard and fast for.
“I just don’t understand,” Mom repeated quietly.
I wasn’t sure what to say, so I kept quiet. What other explanation could I offer? My body and heart wanted Sean Fox, end of story, and outside of the dean where I worked, I didn’t give two shits what people thought about me dating him.
“Are you sure you can’t come home for Thanksgiving?” Mom asked, changing the topic of conversation, thank God. “It sounds as though you need some time away. John and Janice are coming over for the day. I’m sure they would bring Serena if I extended the invite.”
I shuddered at the memory of the woman Mom had attempted to hook me up with when I’d visited after classes had let out back in May. “No, Mom. I’m too busy,” I reminded her of what I’d said the last time she’d asked for me to come down to South Carolina for the long weekend. “I’ll be there for Christmas though—promise. But please, for the love of all you consider holy, do not try to play matchmaker. Sean is the only one I’m interested in, and no female, no matter how pretty or smart, is going to change that.”
He’d weaseled his crafty way into my soul, and I doubted nothing short of death would extract him from my life if I had any say in the matter.
A cool shiver slid down my spine as the words in my head came to fruition in my mind’s eye. Losing Katie had left me deeply wounded, but to have Sean ripped from my life?
I wasn’t sure I would survive another heartache.
How was that possible? Why did my connection with a young man I hardly knew seem so…right?
A text notification came through, and I put Mom on speaker as she went on about the holidays.
Speak of the wily devil. Sean’s text about wanting to kneel for me shot a rush of arousal through me, the last thing I wanted while Mom prattled on in my ear.
I tried to focus on what she said about Claire-bear’s Christmas list, but thoughts of Sean on his knees proved a distraction I couldn’t fight off. Eventually, I responded, and we had a quick back and forth via text.
“Matteo, are you listening to me?”
“Hmm?”
Mom’s exasperated sigh on speaker caused guilt to creep in.“Is it him?”
No point in lying. She would sniff out the truth just like Alessia always managed to do. “Yes,” I said.
“There’s no talking you out of this, is there?”
“Why would you even attempt that?” I asked, annoyance denting my brow. “He makes me happy for the first time since I buried Katie. You should be thankful he’s come into my life.”
Mom hesitated before replying. “You’re right, son. I’m sorry. It’s just…something I never expected is all. You never liked boys before.”
And we were back to her inability to just accept how I felt. Without a doubt, Dad would react much the same since Mom ruled their roost.
“I have to go, Mom.”
“Don’t forget we’re celebrating Christmas on the twenty-third,” she needlessly reminded me.
“The last day of finals is the twenty-first,” I told her what I’d said already. “I’ll be there for the party. Promise—and no Serena!”
I could hear Mom’s pout over the line but didn’t give a shit.
Two minutes later, I called Sean like I’d promised. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m not. My brain won’t shut off, and I can’t focus on this damned paper I have to write.”
“You don’t have anything to prove,” I reminded him. “You’re perfect the way you are.”
“Pop doesn’t think so,” Sean muttered like a petulant child, but I understood. He’d spilled his heart more than once about his relationship with his father, or lack thereof, rather. “Hold on…Micah texted me…I gotta go.”
“Call me back?—”
