Page 9 of The Curve
“Good. That’s all I’m asking.”
The doorbell sounds. My stomach turns.
“Are you nervous?” she asks reading my face.
“No! Well, just a little. I know, it’s stupid. He’s just a man.”
I try to brush off the thought of him, but she’s not buying my indifference.
“Not really, Mom. He’s Atticus Swift. And I can tell you think he’s hot.”
“What? I think he’s handsome. But that’s all. What do you know about hot?”
“I’m thirteen, not three.”
We exchange smiles and the unspoken message that I need to acknowledge she’s becoming a woman. It’s hard letting go of the girl though.
It’s a quick trip to the front door in our small two-bedroom apartment. I give a glance around making sure the place looks neat, pulse quickening as I reach for the knob and swing open the door.
Oh Lord.
Here in front of me, with that movie-star smile, stands a god. He’s wearing navy shorts and a soft looking short sleeved white top that spotlights his guns. It practically floats over his pecs. Jesus McMuffin. He carries a four-pack container with a drink for each of us.
“Morning, Charlotte,” he says with that sexy voice.
“Morning.”
We stand staring at each other for a drawn out moment until he says, “Can I come in?”
“Oh, yes! Sorry. Don’t know where my head is. Come in, Atticus.”
He walks in and looks around. “Very nice. Looks like you.”
“It’s not much,” I say, suddenly aware I sound like my daughter. Or maybe she sounds like me.
“I brought us a coffee and Mallory a mocha smoothie.”
“Thanks. That’s just what I need,” I say taking the hot Grande.
“Hi, Mallory!”
I turn to see her walking from the bedroom. She’s smiling as he hands her the drink. It’s obvious she likes the man. He doesn’t know how rare it is to get that kind of reaction.
“Hi, Mr. Swift. Thank you.”
“What? That’s my father’s name. Call me Atticus.”
“Okay.”
“Are the girls ready to have a good time?”
That’s a loaded question if ever I heard one. But yeah. I know I’m ready.
“Absolutely. We’re looking forward to it,” I say, trying to sound nonchalant.
Mallory stays silent.
“Well, let’s go then.”
