Page 57 of His Property

The stepmom, Darcy, comes up to me with a big, fake smile plastered on her Botoxed face, and she cups my hand. “What was your name, dear?”

“Victor,” I say just as she pulls her hand away. “You must be Darcy.”

She nods, that big smile never wavering. “Yes, I’m Mae’s mom.” She nudges Mae playfully.

Mae’s jaw clenches, and I’m guessing it’s because of the absence of ‘step’ when Darcy introduced herself.

“I’m sorry to say Mae hasn’t mentioned you before.”

I shrug. “We haven’t known each other long.”

Darcy’s eyes widen, and Mae looks like she wants to slap me.

What did I say?

“Well,” Darcy says, righting herself. “Are you coming out to the house?”

Mae looks up at me, and her mouth opens, but Darnell comes up and interrupts before she gets the chance.

“He said they just met,” Darnell grits. “He doesn’t want to come celebrate a holiday with us, Darcy.”

“I don’t have anything else going on,” I say, my smile growing as Darnell’s scowl intensifies. “I mean, if you’ll have me.”

I just can’t stop.

“I don’t believe we cooked enough food.”

“Plus,” Mae adds, looking up at me and subtly shrugging my arm off her shoulder. “You have to get home to Gabi. Right?”

I shrug. “Not really.”

Dominic appears behind Darnell and claps him on the shoulder. “I’m going to take off.”

Darnell frowns, but Pretty Teeth has already started toward the exit. He gives Mae a polite smile and nod, and when his eyes find me, his face tics nervously.

As soon as he’s gone, Darnell grabs Mae’s arm. “I’d like to talk to you.”

She fidgets nervously but nods. “Sure, Daddy.”

She turns to me and touches my arm. “I’ll see you later, okay?”

I consider making one last innuendo, but stifle it. She looks genuinely nervous, and while it’s fun to make her church date uncomfortable, I don’t actually want to make Mae feel that way.

“Sure. Thanks for inviting me.”

I go to turn, but Mae grabs my hand, and I do a double take. I narrow my eyes in confusion, and Mae lifts onto her toes to kiss me on the mouth.

I’m taken aback and don’t get a chance to respond before she pulls away, gives me a wink, then goes to talk to her dad.

I stand there, blinking, and am still in shock. It doesn’t wear off until I head toward the parking lot, but when it does, I break out into a grin, and I laugh to myself.

This woman doesn’t stop surprising me.

16

MAE

Ilug the heavy grocery bags up to Victor’s door, trying to ignore the butterflies fluttering in my gut. My breathing is loud, and I tell myself it’s because I’m out of shape and not because I’m nervous.

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