Page 13 of Confined Space

"Rowdy, you have a perfectly good bed. Why would you sleep in that awful chair?"

I look at my chair. It matches the one Marco bought when we got our place in Texas.

"Like I said, I was tired," I grumble as I turn and head across the room to my bedroom. "I'll be back." I enter my room and jump into a quick shower, then I change into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. I hook my wallet chain onto my belt loop after I put my belt on. Then I run my hands through my wet hair, pushing it back from my face. When I look in the mirror, my first thought is of Coral and what she would think of me, but then I shake my head.

I haven't been able to get her out of my head for the last couple of days. I watched her walk across that hospital parking lot in a trance. The sheriff’s office won't tell me very much about her accident, and I keep wondering what the investigation has found. They tell me a detective is working on it.

I head back to the living room to put my socks and boots on. The scent of coffee brewing instantly calms me. My mom is walking around the kitchen in a pair of tailored shorts, a white loose shirt, and a long necklace. She has always looked effortlessly beautiful and put together.

"What is going on, Mom?" I ask, my elbows on my knees as I watch her fluttering around my kitchen.

"Can't a mom take her son for breakfast and to do some shopping?"

"Breakfast, yes. Shopping, hell no." I stand up. "Besides, I was going to go for a ride today."

"Can we go to breakfast now, then?" She won't turn and look at me. I know she's up to something. My mom is very forward and upfront, but if she's being secretive, she can't hide it from me. She can barely keep presents from me during the holidays.

"Mom, what are you up to?" I walk around the island and into the kitchen.

"Nothing. By the way, that girl, Melissa, said she's free Friday."

"Free for what?"

I grab a mug down and fill it full of black coffee before I hand her a cup so she can doctor up hers. Most of the girls in this fucking town have been after me or my cousins for years. They think that if they are with us, they’ll get some part of the family’s vineyard. Little do they know, it’s going to the corporation after my uncle passes. All three of us boys decided we didn’t want to be winery owners.

"Well, I didn't ask. She was rude to me and my friends." She continues to keep her back to me.

"Which friends?"

"Georgie, Coral, and Archer." Her voice is barely a whisper when she says Coral's name.

"Where did you see them at?" I move around the counter to be closer to her. The urge to know everything about Coral overtakes me.

"The pharmacy. Coral was getting her prescription along with some other things. She looked so sore, and her poor face is bruised."

"How was Archer? Was he okay?" My heart thumps in my chest thinking of Coral hurting. But if Archer is miserable too, that is going to be worse on Coral. It's weird that I barely know them, yet it feels like I know them so well already.

"Oh, he was perfectly fine. He was cooing up a storm to me." My mom's smile takes up her whole face, letting me know how she really feels about Archer and Coral.

Now I know she's up to something.

"Mom. You can stop. Coral was just someone I rescued." I lie through my teeth.

"Rowdy, I saw the way you looked at her. I know you care more than you are saying."

"Okay, I'll make a deal with you. The next time I see her, I'll ask her out. But if she says no, it's going nowhere," I say, knowing that if Coral says no, I'll keep asking because there’s something about her that makes my blood run hot and causes my body to respond. I’ve never felt like this for a woman before.

"Let’s go get breakfast, shall we?"

I follow my mom out to her SUV and help her climb in, then close her door. I then walk over to my garage and start up my motorcycle. I follow her into town to our favorite diner. She remains in the car until I walk over to help her out and then lead her inside. She glances around as if she's looking for someone. I guide her to the back when we’re directed to pick our own booth. I take the seat with my back to the wall and facing the door, and my mom sits opposite me.

Mom immediately pulls out her phone and sends a text message. After a moment, her phone vibrates. She looks at it, then places it back in her bag. Her brows drop and her lips pinch. She's pissed.

"Come on. Spill the beans. What are you up to?" I ask as I lean back and watch the door.

"Nothing." She smiles at me, not confessing her plan.

Brunch goes by without a hitch, and I still haven't figured out what she has planned. I leave her to go do her shopping, and I take off on a ride. I ride around town on the back roads before I end up at the one place I always do.

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