nice,” Mom finally said.
I couldn’t help laughing. “It’s killing you to be so calm.”
“Oh, I’m fine. Tell me about the girl.”
“There isn't much to tell.”
“You called, didn’t you?”
Hearing the smile in her voice, I smiled a bit too. “Her name is Harlow,” I said then added quickly, “She’s young.”
“Of course. No mature woman would fall for a man as strange as you.”
Despite my mood, I laughed. “Very true.”
“She’s falling for you, isn’t she, Rafe?”
“Yes, but she has a past.”
“We all do.”
“A messed up past.”
“She’s perfect for you. When do I meet her?”
Balking, I immediately regretted calling. “I just met her yesterday.”
“And you already know she’s the one. My boy is falling in love.”
“I just met her yesterday,” I said again, emphasizing each word.
Mom laughed. “Oh, then I don’t want to meet her. Best you two get acquainted before I get involved.”
After a moment of silence, I frowned. “You’re already thinking grandchildren.”
“I hope for both a boy and a girl, but will take whatever God offers.”
“She’s nineteen, messed up, and I just met her. Don’t think about grandchildren. It’ll only set you up for disappointment.”
“Close your eyes,” Mom said softly.
Like when I was a boy, I obeyed. “They’re closed.”
“Imagine Harlow’s face.”
Doing as I was told, I remembered the way her big eyes watched me while I massaged her leg. A flush of need came over me instantly.
“She makes you feel different, yes?” Mom asked.
Exhaling softly, I opened my eyes. “Yes, but…”
“No, buts. No more being a boy. The time has come to remove your head from your bum and make a real life.”
“A boy,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“As long as you play the monster when I know you’re anything but, you will be a boy. A man faces his demons. Now make this girl see what I know is inside you, so I can finally have my son back,” Mom said then added quietly, “And a few grandbabies wouldn't hurt either.”
“I promise nothing. Harlow has enough problems without me expecting anything from her.”
Mom remained quiet for nearly a minute then sighed. “You should smile a lot. You have a wonderful smile, baby. That’ll charm her and everything else is simply the little details.”
Grinning, I thanked Mom for her advice. When she learned I was only in town for a week, my sweet as sugar mother ordered me to get my crap together and make that week count. After all, my parents weren’t planning to live forever.
Chapter Eleven ~ Harlow
Vaughn Majors saved me years ago and I’d never be able to repay him for what he gave up to give me a chance to live. He left behind his home, friends, and mother. For years, he avoided me because I reminded him of what he lost. I didn’t blame him. Sometimes, I wanted to avoid him too. Forgetting seemed the easiest choice, but the past was never truly gone.
These days, Vaughn and I didn’t avoid each other. We were friends and forgetting was an even bigger temptation. Especially now that Vaughn was married and about to be a father.
My mind wasn’t on the past when Vaughn and Raven arrived at our house. Focused on pushing back the videogame zombie hordes, I didn’t notice anyone at the door until Jace paused the game and glanced over my shoulder. His expression was classic messed up kid. Always wary, he lost the smile he’d had since we started playing the game.
“Hey,” Raven said, plopping down next to Jace. “Can I play while Vaughn plays big bro with your big sis?”
When Jace kept his gaze on the ground, Raven smiled at me. “He’s afraid to be beaten by a girl who’s not you.”
“She’s never beaten me,” Jace muttered.
“Winnie did once,” I said, handing Raven the controller. “It was a fluke. She sneezed and hit a button and somehow he died.”
Jace grinned. “Killed by a sneeze.”
Leaving Raven to fight zombies with Jace, I found Vaughn
I couldn’t help laughing. “It’s killing you to be so calm.”
“Oh, I’m fine. Tell me about the girl.”
“There isn't much to tell.”
“You called, didn’t you?”
Hearing the smile in her voice, I smiled a bit too. “Her name is Harlow,” I said then added quickly, “She’s young.”
“Of course. No mature woman would fall for a man as strange as you.”
Despite my mood, I laughed. “Very true.”
“She’s falling for you, isn’t she, Rafe?”
“Yes, but she has a past.”
“We all do.”
“A messed up past.”
“She’s perfect for you. When do I meet her?”
Balking, I immediately regretted calling. “I just met her yesterday.”
“And you already know she’s the one. My boy is falling in love.”
“I just met her yesterday,” I said again, emphasizing each word.
Mom laughed. “Oh, then I don’t want to meet her. Best you two get acquainted before I get involved.”
After a moment of silence, I frowned. “You’re already thinking grandchildren.”
“I hope for both a boy and a girl, but will take whatever God offers.”
“She’s nineteen, messed up, and I just met her. Don’t think about grandchildren. It’ll only set you up for disappointment.”
“Close your eyes,” Mom said softly.
Like when I was a boy, I obeyed. “They’re closed.”
“Imagine Harlow’s face.”
Doing as I was told, I remembered the way her big eyes watched me while I massaged her leg. A flush of need came over me instantly.
“She makes you feel different, yes?” Mom asked.
Exhaling softly, I opened my eyes. “Yes, but…”
“No, buts. No more being a boy. The time has come to remove your head from your bum and make a real life.”
“A boy,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“As long as you play the monster when I know you’re anything but, you will be a boy. A man faces his demons. Now make this girl see what I know is inside you, so I can finally have my son back,” Mom said then added quietly, “And a few grandbabies wouldn't hurt either.”
“I promise nothing. Harlow has enough problems without me expecting anything from her.”
Mom remained quiet for nearly a minute then sighed. “You should smile a lot. You have a wonderful smile, baby. That’ll charm her and everything else is simply the little details.”
Grinning, I thanked Mom for her advice. When she learned I was only in town for a week, my sweet as sugar mother ordered me to get my crap together and make that week count. After all, my parents weren’t planning to live forever.
Chapter Eleven ~ Harlow
Vaughn Majors saved me years ago and I’d never be able to repay him for what he gave up to give me a chance to live. He left behind his home, friends, and mother. For years, he avoided me because I reminded him of what he lost. I didn’t blame him. Sometimes, I wanted to avoid him too. Forgetting seemed the easiest choice, but the past was never truly gone.
These days, Vaughn and I didn’t avoid each other. We were friends and forgetting was an even bigger temptation. Especially now that Vaughn was married and about to be a father.
My mind wasn’t on the past when Vaughn and Raven arrived at our house. Focused on pushing back the videogame zombie hordes, I didn’t notice anyone at the door until Jace paused the game and glanced over my shoulder. His expression was classic messed up kid. Always wary, he lost the smile he’d had since we started playing the game.
“Hey,” Raven said, plopping down next to Jace. “Can I play while Vaughn plays big bro with your big sis?”
When Jace kept his gaze on the ground, Raven smiled at me. “He’s afraid to be beaten by a girl who’s not you.”
“She’s never beaten me,” Jace muttered.
“Winnie did once,” I said, handing Raven the controller. “It was a fluke. She sneezed and hit a button and somehow he died.”
Jace grinned. “Killed by a sneeze.”
Leaving Raven to fight zombies with Jace, I found Vaughn
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