Page 63 of A Hard Sell

Luka scrunched up his face and groaned. “Christ, Dad.”

“I know, I know. I told her to mind her business.”

Luka blew out a breath. Every time he arrived back home still single, his mother grew increasingly offended. She took it as a personal mission to rectify the problem, as she saw it. He had forbidden her from setting him up, but that hadn’t stopped her yet.

Speaking of the devil, Marta came scurrying into the kitchen, already dressed and made up. She was about five feet tall and resembled a Christmas tree, all green and covered in baubles.

“Morning, my heart,” she said, planting a kiss on Luka’s cheek.

“Morning, Mom.”

She busied herself pulling eggs out of the fridge and whisking a few up in a bowl. “So, Luka. Cynthia’s son—”

“Oh, God, Mom. No, thanks.”

She sighed and turned to face him, setting down the whisk. “Luka, you are thirty-two years old—”

“I’m aware.” He attempted to push the irritation down that was scratching its way up his throat.

“—and I had two kids by the time I was twenty-eight!”

“I also know this. Jesus, you couldn’t even wait until we’ve had breakfast?

Marta sighed again as if the weight of the world was upon her shoulders. “His name is Travis—”

“Mom, what? You want me to be in a long-distance relationship with Cynthia’s son Travis?”

“Well, Cynthia said he’s thinking about moving to the city.”

Luka looked at his dad. “Will you tell her?”

Oscar just held his paper up higher, sinking behind it.

Luka seethed. “I’m seeing someone at work, okay?”Well, fuck.

“You are?” Marta’s face lit up, jaw dropping wide. “What’s his name? How old is he? What’s his position?”

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “His name is…Thomas. He’s maybe thirty-eight or so.”

“You don’t know how old he is?” She peered at him suspiciously.

“We haven’t been dating long, Mom. It doesn’t matter how old he is.”

“Do you have a picture?”

Luka sighed and flipped through his camera roll to the shot of them on Halloween. “Here.” He held it up to show her.

She leaned over to squint at it. Even Oscar waved Luka’s hand over to have a look.

“Oh, my. He’s awfully handsome. Very…large.” Her face melted into a smile. “You said he works with you?”

“He’s a VP.”

“Your boss?” She looked concerned.

“Mom, I assure you, I am a full-grown adult, and the situation is under control.”Does it count as lying if I’m lying about a lie?

“And where is he for Christmas? Where is his family?”

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