Page 78 of More Than a Spark

“We’re still playing it by ear if we’re coming out or not then, right?” I twisted my lips. With all the schoolwork I’d had this week and his injury, we hadn’t thought to talk about it.

“Yeah, let’s go in as friends and…I don’t know, I’ll make it known if I think it’s time to tell her.” He huffed a laugh.

“Okay.” I could read his cues. I climbed out of the car, then met him on the walkway to the rounded turret entryway. This house was even bigger than I’d remembered. A cooler breeze blew over us and the sun set off in the distance behind a jagged mountain. It was time to go in.

He snatched my hand and pulled me to the massive wooden door with decorative black iron nails, then pressed the doorbell button.

“Um…” I held up our entwined hands between us. Yeah, this wasn’t going to be easy. She was going to find out.

“Oh, shit.” With a goofy smile, he released my hand.

The door swung open and Sheila, Ryder’s mom, stood in the doorway, a white dress billowing around her small frame. She tucked a lock of her dark hair, cropped at the shoulders, behind one ear and looked us both over, narrowing her brown eyes. “Come in, boys.” She stepped aside.

“Hi, Mom.” Ryder kissed her cheek as he walked in.

How was I supposed to greet her? I held out my hand. I’d go for a handshake. “Hello, Sheila.”

She held my hand for a beat, then freed it. “It’s good to see you, Milo.” She gave me a tight smile. “What’s it been? Five years since I’ve seen you?” She looked me up and down, then nodded. “My, you grew up into a handsome young man.”

“Thank you.” Heat swept up my neck. Would she still be saying that if she knew I was now her son’s boyfriend? She was such a hard person to read.

“Come into the family room. Malcolm can’t wait to have a drink with you both.” She strolled through a hallway with columns on either side, over large travertine tiles and past an opulent room with traditional furniture in rich dark woods, marbled table tops and tufted couches. A large tapestry hung on the far wall.

I followed her in, walking next to Ryder. Yes, this was what I remembered. A beautiful home with a bunch of antiques no one would dare touch. It was as if most of the home was only for looking at, not living in.

The end of the hallway opened into a large room with high ceilings. A gourmet kitchen of built-in appliances matching the ornate dark wood cabinetry lined one corner while a big, wrap around leather sectional centered the room.

“Oh, good, you’re here.” Malcolm stood behind a rounded bar opposite the kitchen, the white granite bar top matching the kitchen counters. “What can I get you to drink?” A grin crept over his lips.

“Um…” Ryder glanced at me. “A beer?” He stepped to the bar.

“You sure? This is a special occasion. We don’t get to see you very often.” Malcolm pulled the top off a crystal decanter and poured brown liquid into a fancy low-ball glass. “This bourbon is excellent. You should both try it.”

“Yeah, okay.” Ryder pursed his lips.

“Sure, I love good bourbon.” It wasn’t a lie. I hopped onto an iron barstool at the counter.

Malcolm set the glass in front of me and poured two more bourbons, then set one in front of Ryder, standing between me and the other barstool.

“I had Maria make us a traditional Mexican feast for tonight.” Sheila touched Ryder’s arm. “I know how much you like fresh, homemade tamales, Ryder.”

“Yeah, thanks, Mom.” Ryder sipped his bourbon.

“Let me know when you’d like to eat, and I’ll have her serve us.” She clapped her hands together. “Honey, can you pour me some of that sensational Bordeaux we brought back from France last month?”

“Of course, dear.” Malcolm pulled the cork off a bottle of wine, poured it, then handed it to her.

“How are your studies going, Milo?” Sheila sipped her wine.

“Oh, really well, thanks. I’m in my last semester, so I have some big projects to finish up.” I drank some bourbon, the nutty and woodsy flavor melting on my tongue. Malcolm wasn’t kidding when he’d said this was good.

“I hear you’re going to be working for AllAction when you graduate?” Malcolm threw me a swift grin.

Ryder hung his head.

“Oh, um, well, I don’t know yet.” I studied Ryder and pursed my lips. He was already uncomfortable, and no one had even mentioned the big bandage on his forearm. “I put in an application, and I’ve been invited to an on-campus event with them this week. We’ll see.”

“They’re up in Seattle. You ready to move and leave all this sunshine behind?” Malcolm chuckled.

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