Page 19 of The Holiday Boyfriend

“I missed you, my little baby,” she said even though she had to go on her tiptoes to pull me into a hug.

I laughed and picked her up, spinning her around before setting her on the floor again. “I'm doing good. I just got back from next door. Edna and I finished planting her fall garden today. Go visit her before you leave and make sure you give the garden lots of compliments. She's worried the flowers she picked don't go together. Did you eat yet?” she said everything in one breath like breathing was merely a suggestion.

“Not yet, but I have food at home,” Chuckling, I said and sat at the kitchen table. Eddie followed and lay down by my feet.

“Perfect timing. I’m about to have my dinner as well,” she said, ignoring the second half of my words and pulled a baking dish out of the oven.

I made to get up to help but returned to my seat from her glare. “I may be old, but I'm at least capable enough to serve my baby food,” she scolded. She never really did get over the phase of trying to do everything herself, and only accepted my help when I forced her.

“How was your day?” she asked after handing me a plate and a cup of homemade sweet tea. She got her own much smaller portion before finally settling down and staying still. I swore she had more energy than I did.

“It was good. Same as usual,” I said with a shrug. Mom looked at me with concern but I flicked my gaze to my plate and dug in. Austin's cooking was good but nothing was better than Mom's home-cooked food.

Mom didn't try to push me into spilling all my secrets—knowing from experience that I wouldn't talk unless I wanted to—and changed the topic to Edna's garden. She told me the flowers they planted today and raved about the pressed flower trinkets Edna had turned last season's flowers into.

This was exactly what I needed. Some quality time with someone I cared about without them grilling me about my moods or dabbling in false gossip.

“Oh, right. I heard through the grapevine. I'm happy that Austin is getting back out there, even if it is with his ex.”

I'd spoken too soon.

“They're not getting back together,” I grumbled as I stabbed the fork a bit too hard against the plate. The loud clank rang out in the silent room, but I was getting tired of having to repeat the same thing over and over again.

Mom sat back in her seat and shot me an appraising glance. “You never did like Jared, though you never told me why.”

I shrugged, and Mom continued to study me. “Austin is really special to you, huh?”

“Of course, he's my best friend.” I was confused by the sudden comment but still answered.

Mom sighed, got up, and came to my side. “Sometimes I wonder how my boy turned out to be so dense,” she said as she ruffled my short hair.

I scowled and ducked out of her hand. “I detest that remark. I amnotdense,” I muttered, which only made my mom laugh. Loudly.

Tightening my arms across my chest, I grumbled about how a mom could laugh at her own son. She patted my shoulder, then took our dirty dishes to the sink. I followed her, helping her dry the dishes.

“You should bring Austin by some time for dinner. It's been a while since I've seen him,” she said.

“He's been so busy recently that even I rarely get to have dinner with him,” I said with a sigh. I hated how little time we'd gotten to spend together, but then I remembered the entire reason why I was avoiding going home. I couldn't be clingy. “But I'll ask him.”

Mom only answered with a hum. We didn't linger on the topic and retired to the living room. Eddie cuddled between us on the couch as we watched Mom's favorite trashy dating shows. Even if she was done with the dating scene, she loved commenting on other people's dating lives.

At the end of the season, where the newfound couple embraced in what appeared to be a loving hug, Mom turned to me and casually asked. “Have you been seeing anyone?”

I groaned and hung my head on the back of the couch. That was my cue to get the hell out of there. Mom laughed at my reaction, but didn't try to stop me when I gave her a quick hug and scrambled out of there. She and Eddie stood at the doorway, waving at me as I back out. “Love you!” I heard Mom call through the open car window.

“Love you too,” I called before driving the short distance back to my apartment complex. It was a bit past eight when I got home.

Nerves at the thought of going inside rose inside me. It was a strange feeling, considering home should be my safe space, but I was nervous about seeing Austin again. My thoughts today had revolved completely around him, and I didn't know how to act when I did see him.

However, the nerves were quickly overshadowed by the excitement of seeing him again. Things might have been left off at a strange place this morning, but that didn't change the fact that Austin had always been my safe space. Whatever it was that was bothering him, we could work it out.

The apartment was dark when I entered, and there was no light streaming from under Austin's door either. Figuring that he called it an early night, I also got ready for bed.

I let out a loud groan when I fell on top of my mattress and quickly drifted into sleep, knowing that I was finally able to get some actual rest in a real bed. I'd see Austin tomorrow and maybe we could have a heart-to-heart like we used to all the time during high school.

Everything would be okay.

Except Austin didn't come home the next day. Or the day after that.

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