Page 66 of Love, Always and Forever
True enough.
Time to take the conversation in a safe direction. “So, Tino, how is the squad doing?”
After they talked about the boys’ basketball team Tino and his friend Jay coached, it was time for dessert. By that point, Mikhail was caught up on all the family news and more than ready to head back home.
He had to work a shift at the fire station starting in the morning, and he had a few things he needed to take care of beforehand. If he didn’t do some laundry soon, he’d have to go shopping. Still, there were a lot of hours between then and now. Maybe he could coax Amy into spending most of them with him.
Like maybe at his house and in his bed.
With that in mind, he caught his mother’s eye. “Sorry to cut out so early, Mom, but I have to work tomorrow.”
She gave him a long look before nodding. “Okay, I’ll let you off dish duty this time, but give me a couple of minutes to box up some of the leftovers to go home with you.”
Then she gave him a knowing smile. “Just one question. Should I send enough for two?”
The entire table went silent as they waited for his answer. He was proud of his control when he answered. “I can call Amy to see whether or not she’s already had dinner. If she hasn’t, I’m sure she’d appreciate not having to cook. I can drop her share off before I take Sarge for his walk and get my stuff ready for my shift tomorrow.”
“No need to bother her if she’s working. I’ll make sure there’s plenty for both of you.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
Judging by his mother’s satisfied smile, which was echoed by his brothers and their wives, he hadn’t been all that successful in his efforts to convince everyone that he and Amy were still just friends. Even if it was no longer a secret that they’d become far more than that, their new relationship was too new for him to want to share the knowledge, even with the people who meant the most to him.
The bottom line: he’d take the food and make a beeline for home and see if his friend with all those wonderful new benefits was interested in sharing more than a piece of his mother’s best peach pie with him tonight.
