Page 57 of Good Girls Don't Date Rock Stars (Rock Canyon, Idaho 2)

“Ah, Rico,” Travis said. “He was always a riot.”

“Hey, Mom, I showed dad his room and my room, and now I’m kicking his butt at Monopoly,” Charlie said.

Gemma melted a bit as she saw her son’s happiness and went over to ruffle his hair. “That’s great, honey. Are you hungry?”

“Starvin’ Marvin,” Charlie said, running into the kitchen to wash his hands.

Travis raised his eyebrow. “Is he always like that?”

“Like what?” Gemma said.

“Hyper,” Travis said, carrying the pizzas to the table.

Gemma laughed. “Yeah, pretty much. I was the same way as a kid. He may look like you, but he’s got a lot of me in his personality.” Travis stiffened, and whatever she’d said wrong, she wished she could take it back.

Charlie joined them at the table and started to reach into the top box. Suddenly, he yanked his hand back and made a face.

“Yuck, this isn’t right.”

Gemma lifted the lid all the way, taking in the funky concoction of meat and veggies, and remembered it was Travis’s favorite, down to the white sauce. Normally, she just bought Charlie a small pepperoni pizza and a salad for herself.

Travis reached in and grabbed a couple slices. “This is the best pizza in the world.”

Charlie still hadn’t lost his complete look of disgust. “If you say so.”

Gemma snorted as she grabbed her salad and drizzled fat-free dressing on it, trying hard not to think about the tempting aroma of the pizza. After the junk she’d had today, she couldn’t afford to have any. Maybe tomorrow she could grab a small leftover

slice, she thought, eyeing the pizza longingly as she shoved a forkful of salad into her mouth.

“That’s what you’re eating?” Travis asked.

Gemma looked from his pizza, dripping with cheese and yummy goodness, to her healthy salad. “Yes. Yes, this is what I’m eating.”

“Mom always gets a salad for dinner at Rico’s,” Charlie said.

“Why?” Travis asked between bites.

“’Cause she doesn’t want to get a Buddha belly again.”

“Charlie!” Gemma scolded, mortified.

“What? That’s what you told Aunt Gracie,” Charlie said, looking confused.

Gemma ducked her head and filled her mouth with more salad, trying to avoid looking at Travis. It was so embarrassing to be reminded of what a tank she used to be.

“I think your mom is beautiful, no matter what she weighs.”

Gemma jerked up her head and met his eyes with surprise.

“I do, too, but she’s always freaking out about her butt getting big or something,” Charlie said around a mouthful of pizza.

“Let’s change the subject,” Gemma said. For a man who hated her guts, Travis was being awfully kind to her. First the bookstore pep talk, and now telling their son he thought she was always beautiful.

Don’t read into it.

“Charlie and I were trying to decide what to do tomorrow,” Travis said. “Any suggestions?”

“Well, Charlie loves to fish. You could do that, or maybe just take a drive?”

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