Page 73 of February

“Well, we’re not walking there.”

“I was going to make us take the bus. He’ll use it a lot if he’s down here.”

“I will?” Aaron asked. “I was going to get a car.”

“You don’t need one,” Bridgette replied. “Just one sec,” she added, answering her phone and turning away from them.

“Mom, do I have to take the bus?”

Monica laughed and said, “Not right now, but probably in the future, yes. Bridgette was just making fun of me.”

“She’s hot,” Aaron noted.

“Aaron!” Monica turned to check that Bridgette was still turned away. “She’s twenty-seven. You’re eighteen.”

“I didn’t mean for me. I meant foryou. You’re into her, right?”

“What? No, I told you–”

“I watched you two walk over here, Mom. You like her. Does she like you? I think so, but–”

“Aaron, she’s a nice person who offered to show you around campus. That’s all.”

“Sure, Mom. Whatever you say.” He mock-winked at her and turned serious. “But you should, you know?”

“Should what?”

“Go for it, if you want.”

“Aaron, it’s not–”

“You should be happy. After whatLillianhas put you through, you deserve it.”

“She’s your mother. Stop calling her by her name,” she replied with a headshake at him.

“Just… If you want to… you know.” He glanced over at Bridgette, who was now walking back over to them. “Go for it. That’s all I’m saying.”

“So… The bus, right?” Bridgette asked.

“No, the car,” Monica said. “He can take the bus for the next four years.”

“Fine. At least you brought a regular-size purse today.”

When Monica laughed, Aaron watched the exchange and shook his head with a smile on his face.

CHAPTER 17

The whole day had been fun. Bridgette hadn’t been expecting that. She had not expected Monica to show up in the office and for her to spend a couple of hours trying to help Bridgette save the company instead of focusing on buying it. Monica hadn’t mentioned Arnette Assets as an investor, either. Instead, she had helped Bridgette see that there was validity in the ideas she had long held but hadn’t been able to convince her parents to do. In addition, Monica hadn’t just let her off the hook and told her how amazing those ideas were. She’d made sure to challenge Bridgette, in a good way, because Bridgette had always taken no as the answer from her parents and had never put together any kind of strategy or proof that her ideas would make them money or could save the business. While Monica had made her see that she’d failed in that regard, she’d done it in such a way that made Bridgette feel like that wasn’t the end of the world and that she could still convince them if she only saw it through.

After that, she had met Aaron, Monica’s son, who was, as it turned out, not an annoying eighteen-year-old boy. He had some of Monica’s maturity, even at his age, and he was taking his college search seriously. He had already done his own research and knew the campus well enough for someone visiting there for the first time. Bridgette had been pleasantly surprised at how good it felt to be back at school, knowingshe’d already graduated, and therefore, the place had a totally different vibe now. She also liked that she could help Aaron, but mainly, Monica, who remained mostly silent throughout the tour because Aaron had a lot of questions and Bridgette had most of the answers.

During the structured events offered to prospects, Bridgette and Monica stood off to the side or went to grab a cup of coffee. The school also offered a parents’ event where they gave an overview of the important things for freshmen parents to know, so Bridgette had planned on remaining outside and walking the campus on her own while Monica attended, but Monica hadn’t even asked her to join; she’d just looped her arm through Bridgette’s, and they’d walked into the room. Bridgette had tried to play it off. She’d pulled out her phone for a minute and scrolled because this wasn’t anythingsheneeded to know, but quickly, she’d put it away because she found shedidwant to know. She liked Aaron. She wanted to make sure he would be okay here, and shereallyliked Monica and wanted to be there for her since Aaron’s other mother and Monica’s ex-wife couldn’t be bothered to show up for their own son.

When the tour was over, Bridgette was prepared to hop on the bus and head home, but Aaron asked if she’d go to dinner with them. Bridgette had recommended a place, and Aaron had been excitedly talking about his experience that day for nearly the entire dinner. Then, when the check came, Monica reached for it and paid without a word, and her arm had ended up over the back of the booth in that way that said she and Bridgette were close enough for her to do that. A few times during dinner, Monica had also leaned over to explain one of her son’s stories further. Aaron seemed to love both Tulane and telling stories of his mother that were at least slightly embarrassing, making Bridgette lean in with interest and Monica occasionally place her hand on Bridgette’s forearm or briefly, her thigh.

Dinner over, Monica and Aaron had headed back to the hotel, but not before they’d dropped Bridgette off at home. Having left Aaron in the car, Monica had gotten out with her, and she’d walked Bridgette to her door. There, Monica had opened her arms for her, and Bridgette had just moved into them without thinking. It was their first hug, and it had been a really good one, too. She’d probably held on to Monica a little longer than she should’ve had, but she hadn’t wanted to let her go. She’d wished Aaron hadn’t been sitting in the car, waiting for his mother, and that they had a moment of privacy because she would have asked Monica inside to talk. She would’ve poured them a drink, and maybe they could’ve finally talked about this possible chemistry between them, but that hadn’t been the case.

Two hours later, though, Bridgette was surprised that there was a knock at her door, and when she checked the peephole, she could see Monica standing there.

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