Page 15 of Southern Comfort
“None of my friends have Moms like you.” He chuckles.
My annoyance turns to charm when he gives me “the smile”.
“Did you really think I’d try to get away with that?” He laughs.
“Yes. But now that I know you weren’t, I’ll do your laundry as a reward.”
“Thanks. For real I hate the job.”
“Go get settled, honey. I’ll make you something to eat.”
“So that guy, Landon.” The sentence drops there.
My smile wants to escape its confines. “What about him?”
“You interested?”
“What? He just did a favor bringing me home.”
I sound like a child with crumbs around her lips denying she ate the cookie. He’s the parent not buying it.
“Who you kidding, Mom? Look at your face.”
He crosses to the couch in front of the picture window and pats the seat next to where he plops.
“Let’s talk.”
It is clever how he is using my tried and true method of getting to the meat of the story. I have used it on him all his life. On this very couch. Tables turned.
“Okay.” I take the seat and curl a leg under. “What do you want to know?”
“Just the truth.”
“Imaybe interested. We haven’t gotten past the introductions. We just met last night.”
A look of surprise crosses his face.
“And you slept together?”
I hit him on the arm. “No! What? No!” Hopefully, my horrified expression convinces him.
He chuckles. “Well, I thought maybe you did, because one, it’s morning. Two, you’re in night clothes. And three, he had the look.”
“What sort of look?
“The kind guys get when they’re into you. I know what I’m talking about, Mom.”
It is sweet he thinks I would be unaware.My baby.
“And then you rolled up on the Harley. Boom! The prosecution rests, Your Honor.” He’s delighted with his cleverness.
“Honey, I would never leave you out of what’s happening in my life. If I decide to see someone, you’ll be in on it. I will tell you. Promise.”
A half grin shows up.
“So what happened in the bar?”
“A man followed me to the bathroom. I was inebriated. Landon was sober and fearless.”
