Page 29 of Love your Billionaire Boss

“You win some, you lose some. You boys will do better next time.”

Kenny smiled. His mom was always encouraging.

“What are you doing, honey? You’re usually out with the boys.”

“Yeah, I thought I’d just stay in tonight.”

“Mmm. Everything okay?”

“Yeah, Mom. Everything’s fine.”

He heard her setting the timer on the oven. Even though she lived alone, she still made an effort to cook for herself. She was an amazing cook. Maybe that’s why he liked Cleo so much. She kind of reminded her of his mom, in all the best ways.

Kenny realized he hadn’t visited his mom in a while and felt a pang of guilt. They would usually just meet in the city for lunch, but he should put in more of an effort. He knew she got lonely sometimes in her house. She had married a nice man years after Kenny was born. John was his name. Despite everything, he took in Kenny as his own and eventually adopted him. He died a few years back from a heart attack, which was devastating for his mom.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Yeah, honey?”

“I want to come visit next week. We’ll be playing home games all week, so I’ll be in the city. I can come over for dinner or something.”

“Oh, that would be great! I would love that.”

She was silent for a moment.

“What’s really going on, honey?” she asked curiously.

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know. You sound… different.”

“Do I?”

“Oh, my gosh. Is it a girl?”

Kenny rolled his eyes. His mom was always pushing him to get out there and meet a girl. She was just waiting for the day he would bring someone home to meet her. She’d always say, “I need grandbabies, you know. You’re my only hope.”

This time, he didn’t want to disappoint her with his usual answer. This time, he actually felt like there could be, and who else better to admit it to than his mom?

“No. Maybe. I don’t know,” he said exasperatedly, running a hand through his damp hair.

He heard his mom squeal on the line and he had to pull his phone away from his ear.

“Really? Oh, my gosh. What’s her name? When do I get to meet her?”

“Slow down, Mom. Her name is Cleo. And I don’t know if you’ll ever meet her. It’s new. It’s not even anything.”

“Not yet! Tell me about her.”

“She’s a baker. A really good one. She’s quiet, but nice. I don’t know. She’s different.”

“Smart girl. She knows a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. That’s how I got John,” she said, her voice breaking a little.

“You okay, Mom?”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m fine. Sorry. So, have you asked her out?”

“No. I don’t know if I’m going to.”

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