Page 79 of Wishing for Love

Her face softened and then flushed. He didn’t know what that was about. “I’d like to think of it that way but don’t want that pressure on us either.”

“Sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to put any pressure on you or me or us.”

“I know. So much is happening in such a short period of time. If your cousins know, are you going to tell your parents? Will they tell their mother and have it get back to your mother?”

He sighed. “I don’t think they will tell their mother. They aren’t that way. But I was going to call my mother tonight if you’re fine with it.”

“I am,” she said. “I don’t plan on telling anyone in my family other than Taylor. It’s not like I see or talk to them anyway.”

He wouldn’t be hurt over that. He knew she didn’t have the best relationship with her parents.

“Give me a kiss then,” he said. “I’m going to go call my mother now.”

She gave him a big kiss and hug. “Are you going to let me know how it goes?”

“I will,” he said. “I can come back up if you want or you can come down and wait for me.”

He was going to make the call with her not around. He didn’t think his mother would give him a hard time but didn’t want to take that chance and not have a good poker face.

“You can come up if you want,” she said. “I’m going to get ready for bed.”

“I’ll be back soon,” he said, then went down to his room.

“Phoenix,” his mother said, answering on the second ring. “I heard you got some exciting news today.”

“It’s exciting and overwhelming at the same time,” he said.

“I was going to call you, but Dad said to give you time. Then I figured you were getting Elsie ready for bed too.”

“I was,” he said.

“How are you feeling about it all?”

He told his mother the same thing he said to Crystal. “I’m relieved and happy to spend more time in the lab. It feels as if this weight has been lifted off my shoulders even though we are nowhere near that yet.”

“You’ll get there. The light is at the end of the tunnel,” his mother said. “You’ll work extra hard until then and even after.”

“I don’t want to let anyone down,” he said.

“And you won’t. I’m thrilled for you. You deserve this. It’s been a wild several months for you.”

“Yes,” he said. “It has. I have another piece of news to share too.”

“What’s that?” his mother asked.

“I’ve been seeing someone,” he said.

“Crystal?” his mother asked.

He frowned. “How did you know?”

“I’ve got eyes and ears. I saw how you looked at her during the interview. I hear how you talk about her. Hear how Elsie does too.”

“I just want to do right by Elsie.”

“You are and you will. I have no doubts there and you shouldn’t either. But there is no reason you can’t find some happiness too.”

“I can’t mess this up,” he said.

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