Page 41 of Love at a 7-Eleven

"Caleb's the best-looking kid I have, and that's saying a lot. I produced some fine-looking boys. Diego's pretty handsome, but he's got a baby and a girlfriend. Have you seen Drake?"

She glanced at me for my answer. "No, I haven't." I had seen him on television and I had seen him on social media, but I didn't say that.

"Well, Drake, he's good-looking. Almost as good as Caleb. Drake's dad was Filipino." She reached over and pinched Caleb's face. "This one, we don't know who his dad is… but it doesn't matter, does it? Just look at him. He came out perfect. Look at this face." She turned and glanced at me. "And he's famous, too. You must know that. Did you know he's famous?"

"She knows about my YouTube, Mom."

"That YouTube's good, but I'm talking about the TV show. He's an actor. That's how she probably knows you."

"Yes, Lila knows about the show," Caleb said.

"I loved the show," I said.

"I'm sure you did. All the ladies like that show. They all want to look at those men with their shirts off."

"Mom," Caleb said.

"What? You know she's not blind. Why do you think she's sitting back here smiling?" She glanced back at me, raising her eyebrows suggestively. Caleb adjusted the mirror so that he could look at me as well. I smiled pleasantly at her knowing he could see me.

"What do you do for work?" she asked.

"I graduated college recently, and I'm getting into party planning."

"Like a wedding planner?"

"Yes," I said, not wanting to disagree even though I didn't want to do weddings.

"Well, at least you didn't say you're an actress like everyone else in this city."

"No, I'm…"

"She lives in Chicago," he said.

"I'm just here visiting."

She let out a relieved sound and leaned back as she reached out to ruffle his hair. "You had me freaked out with the girlfriend thing. An outta-town girl's totally different." She relaxed in her chair and leaned back. "I could see how you'd come all the way out here to visit my Caleb. He's a hottie."

"Mom, please," Caleb urged.

"I'm not saying anything that's not the truth. She knows you're hot. And you're rich enough to buy this whole town."

"That's not true."

"Well, you might as well be. You bought your mama a house. That house I'm livin' in… who do you think bought that?"

The question was for me, but Caleb spoke. "Drake helped me," Caleb said.

"Hey, can you stop right here at this gas station and let me… thank you," she said when he slowed quickly and turned into the next driveway on the right. "I'm working the line tonight. I'm gonna need an energy drink."

He glanced at her patiently when he parked.

"Can you go in and get it? I’ll be on my feet all night."

"Sure," Caleb said. He glanced at me. "Are you coming?" he asked.

"She'll stay with me," Dani said. "You'll just be a second. Anything but orange."

"Any brand?"

---