Page 24 of Twenty-Three Years of Longing

Tonight wasn’t a date, but damn it, I wish it was.

CHAPTER 8

Raya

“Kathy, I don’t have long to talk. Orion is picking me up this morning,” I said as I finished applying my makeup.

“Why is he driving you to work?” she asked.

I puckered and blotted my lips until there was just a trace of lipstick remaining. “Last night he said that there was a meeting I needed to attend after work with him, so it only made sense for us to drive in together as well.”

“Hmm. I could be reading too much into it, but I have a feeling he is coming up with excuses to spend time alone with you.”

I grabbed my phone off the sink counter so I could look directly at her. Thank goodness for Facetime. “Listen here. He is my boss. He is not interested in me. All he wants and thinks about is productivity and job performance. Trust me. This is purely business.”

“You went out to dinner with him last night. How much business did you guys talk?” she asked.

That wasn’t a fair question. “We were supposed to talk business, but Reesa gave instructions that we couldn’t.”

“And yet you still went. I find that odd. If you didn’t talk about work, then what did you talk about?”

“His house. He’s moving and offered to rent it to me. I guess he will be taking me to see it tonight after our meeting.” Immediately, I regretted sharing that with her. Her expression was enough to tell me she once again was jumping to the wrong conclusions. “Don’t even say it,” I warned her.

“Apparently, I don’t have to. You’re thinking it yourself.” Her smile was one of victory.

Don’t know what you think you won. He’s still my boss.

“I’m hoping that his house will work for me and Joey. He was telling me all about it. Three bedrooms, a large kitchen and living room, and a yard. And the best part is the location. I will only be fifteen minutes away from the school,” I said.

“Great. Fifteen minutes from school, but more than ten hours away from your best friend. It was bad enough when you left, but now Joey too. This...sucks,” she said. “I know why you’re doing it, but it sucks.”

It would be easier if I could tell Kathy when Joey and I would see her again, but I had no idea myself. If things worked out with the job like I hoped they would, then I most likely wouldn’t be back in the States for a couple of years, maybe more. I didn’t want to move Joey around too much, but when it was time for him to attend college, I had a few that I had picked out for him. All were in the States.

“Kathy, I know it’s hard. I hate it too. Maybe you will be able to come and visit us on your vacation. And if not, then I promise, as soon as we can, we will be back to see you,” I said, not able to commit to anything more than that.

“You will probably find some sexy Tabiqian man, fall in love, and never come back to the US. You'll forget all about me,” she sighed.

I laughed. “First of all, you know that you’d hunt my ass down if I didn’t even call you every day, never mind forget you. Secondly, I’m not looking for a man, sexy or not. You know how I feel about dating.”

“Yeah. You’re not going to date until Joey is eighteen because you don’t want to bring men into and out of his life. I get it. But come on, Raya. There is a huge difference between dating someone, and them having a relationship with your son. Heck, you don’t even need to tell them about Joey. They never need to meet. You just need to...well you know, clear the cobwebs out.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not going there with you. Especially not when I am about to leave for work,” I reminded her.

A smile crossed her face. “Oh yes. You don’t want to be late for your boss.”

“Good night, Kathy. Tell Joey I will call him tomorrow before he goes to school,” I said.

“Have a great day, Raya. And don’t worry. I’m keeping him busy.”

“I heard. Just remember to feed him something other than pizza and burgers. There are five food groups,” I reminded her.

“Sure, there are. Pizza. Chocolate. Ice cream. Cookies. Chips.”

She was impossible, but that is what I get for doubting her ability to care for Joey. Just as annoying as when Orion doubts me. “Sorry. I know you got this.”

“Of course you do. If you didn’t, then you never would’ve entrusted him with me. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Before she ended the video call, she quickly added, “Don’t forget to check out his bedroom on your tour tonight.”

She was still laughing when it disconnected.

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