Page 46 of Hooked on a Feeling

He hadn’t spoken to his parents since his dad fired him, and when he and his brothers were through eating, John thought it was as good a time as any to visit his mother. When he got to his childhood home, a pang of longing settled in his chest. His mother would be rightfully disappointed. But did she agree with him being fired?

He went around to the side of the house and opened the kitchen door. His mother was sitting at the table, working on her laptop. She looked up at him. “Did you think I was going to give you a spanking?”

“I would deserve it.”

“Damn right you would. What were you thinking, Johnny? It didn’t cross your mind that you might wind up in prison for assault of an officer of the law?” His mother shook her head, pushed her seat back, and stood. “Get over here right now.”

John stepped up to his mother. He was taller than she was, so when she hugged him to her chest, he practically got bent in half. “Mom.” His throat constricted on the word. “I’m sorry. I hope you aren’t too disappointed in me.”

She pushed him back. Her eyes were shiny with tears, and they began to slide down her cheeks. His gut tightened. “I’m planning a trip alone.” As an afterthought, she added, “Kay might be able to go with me.”

“I didn’t think Dad would fire me. I’m sorry that I ruined your trip plans. But Mom, he infuriates me,” he said, trying to quell his temper. That was the last thing she needed right now. Not when his dad was being such a stubborn ass. “He couldn’t put me on probation? You should have heard the things Tyson Lowe was saying to Starr. No man—Christ, no human—should ever talk that way to someone. He was harassing her, Ma.” He fell into a chair beside the table. “What has happened to Dad this past year? Why is he being like this? Dad has always had your back, and if he’d heard how Starr was getting a talkin’ to, Dad would have flipped.”

His mom sat back down in her chair. She grabbed a Kleenex and dabbed at her eyes. “I don’t know. I tend to think he might be suffering a midlife crisis.”

“He’s almost sixty, not forty.”

“It can happen any time. But Blue has been his life for so long, I imagine it’s hard for him to let it go. He’ll be lost, John. If only he would trust me, I could show him the other side. We have a life worth living, and we’re wasting it being stuck here when he has capable children to run the company.”

“So, what are we going to do? Is it still considered kidnapping if we force him to go on a trip with you?”

“How would we do that?”

John shrugged. Had his life really come to this? “Trick him.” John closed his eyes, thinking of scenarios. “You know, even if you could trick him onto a plane, I’m still fired, and I have to admit, it’s not all bad.”

“Shame on you, Johnny.”

“I haven’t had a day off since we closed for Christmas, and that hardly counts.”

“Your dad knows you will be amazing at running the company. Maybe you could extend an olive branch?”

John opened his eyes. “By olive branch, you mean what?”

“Apologize to him. Spill your guts that he was right. You belong at Blue.” She gave him puppy eyes. “I can schedule a trip. You get your job back, and then I can persuade him into a trip. With you guys’ help, of course.” She winked.

“You know how this sounds? Have we really stooped to this level?” John was already going to do whatever she wanted. He knew it. She knew it. She deserved a happy life. It was the least he could do after getting arrested and losing his job.

“Fine. I’ll do it.” He stood. “Under one condition.”

“Name it.”

“You have to personally invite Starr to Sunday dinner.”

“You’re quite serious about this woman?” His mother smiled. He was sure that she was already hearing wedding bells.

“I’d like to be. But the fact is that she lives in Colorado. She has zero plans on moving here.”

“Does she feel the same way about you?”

The soft, breathy sigh of Starr’s voice telling him she loved him was something he was never going to forget. “She does. But she runs a business back there.”

“Oh. What kind of business is that?”

“A yoga studio.”

His mother smiled. “That’s nice. How long has she been in business?”

“A few years. You know she’s a Young, don’t you? You don’t have anything to say about that?”

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