Page 39 of Bake You Mine
eleven
Liam figuredhe had a visitor when Teddy didn’t greet him. Only one other person had a key to his apartment, so it wasn’t hard to guess who the uninvited guest was.
“Ma, where are you?”
Her out-of-tune humming carried from down the hall, where he found her cleaning his toilet, earbuds tucked in. He thought about sneaking up on her, but she liked to say he’d never be too big for her to beat his ass.
Teddy sat on the vanity top, watching Liam’s mother work.
He entered the bathroom, hoping she’d see him in the doorway. Liam waved to his mother, and Teddy leaped from the counter into his arms. He caught him and allowed the old cat to lick his chin.
She tugged an earbud out. “William, it’s not nice to sneak up on people.”
“I wasn’t trying to! It’s not my fault you were too busy humming along to “Boogie Shoes” to hear me coming. What are you doing here anyway?”
She paused the music and set her phone on the counter. “Why are you acting as if I have ulterior motives?”
Fed up, Teddy squirmed, and Liam released him onto the vanity top. “Because I know you?”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re a busy man. I don’t mind tidying up the place. And giving Teddy Weddy some love.” She rubbed him under his chin, making him erupt into a loud purr.
His mother was a bit of a clean freak, but she wasn’t prone to swinging by randomly to tidy up his place. “Why are you here? Aren’t you guys busy at the firm?”
His mother led a team of two other paralegals at Joanie and Carolyn’s law practice. There was never a slow season in family law.
“It’s Saturday, and I work half days. I figured I’d eat at the restaurant after tidying up your place. Even if you guys are always busy, being the chef’s mother should allow me some privileges.”
Flimsy reasoning at best. He didn’t have time to remark on it before his mother carried on speaking.
“How’s planning for the first challenge going? Sasha told me it’s a dinner for thirty-five?”
Liam hadn’t thought much about the number of guests since he could do a dinner for thirty-five with one arm tied behind his back and an eyepatch. So far, the only challenging aspect was his opponent.
“Yep. Monday night. Aubrey and I are working together to ensure the food flows well.”
His mother pursed her lips, trying to swallow a smile. “You know I love your food and Aubrey’s, too. If you weren’t my kid, I’d be rooting for her!”
He leaned against the door frame. “Gee, thanks, Ma.”
She motioned him to leave the bathroom, and he turned the light off on his way out the door. Teddy ran ahead of them, wanting his evening meal.
“You know what I mean. I have a sweet tooth for days.” Shecleared her throat, which meant full meddle mode had engaged. “So, are you two getting along?”
He rolled his eyes. “Seriously?”
“What? It’s an innocent enough question.” She thumbed the beads on one of her low-hanging necklaces.
Teddy began to howl for dinner, and he didn’t let up until Liam dumped the stinky goop onto his plate. He tugged gently on Teddy’s tail, which the old guy loved. “Aubrey and I are neighbors, currently competing in a contest thrown by Gary and the city. Nothing else.”
Especially since she’d made it clear she wasn’t interested—which he kept reminding himself was agoodthing.
“You know Brody is in little Daphne’s class. The school is having a fall festival soon. Maybe you should swing by. Brody would love to see you there.”
“I will if I can; just let me know when it gets closer.”
“It’d be good for you, I think, to spend more time around kids.”
He groaned. “Kids aren’t on the horizon anytime soon.”
