This Time For Us by Elena Markem

Author:Elena Markem [Elena Markem]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jersey Girl Press
Published: 2023-05-10T00:00:00+00:00

She and Cole had just finished eating—their second meal a little less awkward than their first thanks to keeping the conversation focused on her work and his lunch with Millie—when she heard a car pull into the driveway and a minute later Dean came in. She barely said hi before asking, “How was dinner?” She hoped her tone sounded casual, because that wasn’t how she felt. She wanted to give him the classic maternal third degree and, more importantly, ask him how he liked Heather.

“It was okay,” he said with a shrug.

So not helpful, but she didn’t expect more. “Where did you go?”

“The dining room at the Castle.” Figures. “Don’t think they liked my jeans much, but whatever.”

Mia couldn’t decide if she was glad Heather wasn’t the kind of woman who took a teen boy’s likes into account. “Did you like it?”

“Their burgers aren’t as good as Varum’s.” Mia smiled and gave herself an internal high five for knowing her son so well. “Aunt Heather is one of those women Mom called an Orderer.”

“What does that mean?” Mia asked, trying not to show her discomfort at hearing him say “Aunt Heather.”

“Mom would wait tables on Friday and Saturday night at this ritzy place near us. The tips were good, and the leftovers were better.” Mia knew Ashley worked as a secretary in the local school so she could have hours that matched Dean’s days, but clearly the salary wasn’t quite enough. “She always made fun of the women who made a big show about ordering something expensive and then not eating it. She would have laughed if she saw the salmon her sister chose and then barely touched. Guess that’s why she’s so skinny. Seems stupid to me. I’ve got homework to do. Algebra test Friday.”

“Do you need help?”

“Nah, I got this. The class isn’t as bad as I thought it’d be. By the way, nice ring.” He put an arm around her, gave a quick squeeze, then said, “G’night.”

She stared after him with more questions she wanted to ask but wasn’t eager to hear the answers to. And if he didn’t want to talk or think about his time with Heather, that was fine with her. She put her hand to the spot on her arm where he’d hugged her, wishing he’d stayed a second longer.

“You’re not going to lose him,” Cole said, breaking into her thoughts.

What do you know? Something could make her forget Cole. “Am I that obvious?”

“You’ve been staring after him for three minutes.”

She made an unsuccessful attempt at smiling. “This is harder than I thought it would be.”

“I can tell. It’s odd that she took him to the restaurant at the hotel. I don’t think she’s staying there.” Cole explained seeing the Mercedes at the Stewart’s.

“Guess she wanted to impress him.”

“Yeah, because teens are so impressed by big hotels and place settings with too many forks.”

Mia managed to laugh, but it changed into a sob. “How am I going to make it through this weekend when he’s with her?”

“Are you working? That would help.

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