Page 102 of In The Game

He shakes his head. “She only knows about you.”

I look back up and stare at my fate and then look down at Arthur.Oh fuck.

Gliding into the boat garage, my nerves multiply. We hop onto the platform and exit onto the attached dock, where she’s as surprised to see us. Arthur stays tucked behind my leg, his usual with new people.

“Hi, Mom. Didn’t know you were stopping by, a heads-up would have been nice.”

The woman has kind eyes and a big smile. “I know, I’m sorry! But I made this cookie recipe from Amelia and accidentally added too much flour so I had to add more of everything else and now I have sixteen dozen cookies, so I thought I would swing by and drop some off. I saw your car was here, so I figured you were out on the boat, but I didn’t know you had company—well, introduce me!”

“Waiting to get a breath in, Mom. This is Raleigh and this little guy”—he looks down at Arthur, who lets go of my leg to cling to Barrett’s—“is Arthur.”

He pulls me to his side. “Raleigh, this is my mom, Susan.”

I’m sweating out of every pore. Does she know he and I had a one-night stand? Does she judge me for being a single mother? She can see right through me, I know it. “It’s so nice to meet you!” I say it with a big smile and hold out my hand.

“Oh please, I’ve heard about you for so long now, I feel like we’re already friends.” She pulls me into a hug. “I’m so happy you two are finally connecting again. You should know, he never takes women out on his boat, so he’s definitely into you. I mean, of course he is, you’re the infamous Raleigh from Raleigh! Barrett, she is even more beautiful than you described. Wow, you lucky son of a gun. Better treat her well.”

“Hey, Mom?” Barrett interrupts her rambling. “Easy on the overshare, eh? I don’t need you to scare her away already.”

“Hi, Arthur.” Susan uses a comforting tone, bending down and calming her energy for him. “You can call me Big Suze.”

“Hi.” He wiggles his fingers back at her.

She holds out her fist to him. “Wanna blow it up?”

He presses his small knuckles to hers and then they open their hands and make explosion sound effects.

She straightens and places her hand on my shoulder like we’re old friends. I instantly feel at ease. Does every Conway have this magical effect?

“For cryin’ out loud, he is just so darn adorable. Can he have a cookie?”

“Sure,” I answer with a chuckle.

“Great! Barrett, I’m taking them up to the house for cookies and milk. Grab her bag, will ya?”

Her arm hooks in mine and she holds out her hand to Arthur. Yeah, I can see he’s already become comfortable with her too. It must be genetic.

“Whoa, how about you just wait—”

“Chill out, Barrett. Don’t have a cow. I’m not going to tell her any embarrassing stories like how you used to smile at the sky during thunderstorms because you thought the lightning was a giant camera flash taking your picture.”

My mouth opens in a smile. “Please tell me that’s true!” I laugh, visualizing an innocent, sweet, naive little Barrett.

Barrett drops his head in his hands, muttering “Oh my God…”

“Hurry up with that boat, there’s no telling how many things I’ll remember before you get back!”

“Raleigh, she’s confused, I apologize. Mom, maybe you should go sit down for a while, put on one of your programs. How’sGunsmokesound?” he teases her.

She laughs and wrinkles her nose, mouthing, “He’s such a smartass sometimes!”

“I really preferI Love Lucy!” she yells over her shoulder. His mom and I enter through the lower-level walk-out, the cool air chilling all the sweat from earlier. She heads over to one of the darker rooms, clearly knowing her way around his house. She’s a delight. I enjoy seeing the relationship between them. It’s fun and lighthearted. And loving. She and Barrett obviously joke around often.

“Do you drink wine, Raleigh?”

I close the door behind me and toe off my flip flops. “Oh, um, sure!”

“Great! You head up and I’ll steal us a bottle!” She’s got a mischievous streak.

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