Iwaited for Tabby’s usual jab in my direction or a roll of her eyes, the thingsI had come to expect in the short time I’d known her. The stuff that might’vehappened before she upset the balance and kissed me, before I then egged her onand kissedher. But they didn’t come.
Tabby’seyes left mine, settling on my mom’s as she took the older woman’s arm and ledher into the living room. She beckoned Greyson to follow, before bombarding Momwith questions about my sisters and our upbringing. All with a startling amountof genuine interest. I’m not sure she realized what she was doing by askingquestions, and then asking some more between nods of her head and sweet smiles.But I knew exactly what was happening, as I watched the clock and timed thelasagna and garlic bread.
I’min so much fucking trouble.
19
tabby
In my line of work, it’s necessary that I possessthe ability to get along with anybody and everybody. I know how to makeeverything they say look interesting. I know when to smile, to nod, to tip myeyebrows with concern. I’m a professional, and I am always in tune with mysocial cues.
Thiswas what I had prepared myself for when meeting Sebastian’s mother. I had knownshe was coming over, and from the moment I met her, I had every intention ofputting on my “game face” and appeasing her until she was gone.
Inmy line of work, I also find myself in instances where I genuinely becomefriends with the client, as was the case with Mrs. Worthington. I don’t knowwhy I hadn’t anticipated this also being the case also with Ronnie Morrison.
“Well,now I know where Sebastian gets his cooking skills from,” I complimented,finishing my second piece of lasagna.
Thepraise wasn’t also meant to boost his ego, but he puffed his chest and reachedout to clap his mother on the shoulder, gripping and shaking. “She had to giveme something other than this amazing hair.”
“Ido wish you’d cut that mop,” Ronnie quipped, brushing his hand away. “You alwayshave it in that stupid knot.”
Mylaugh burst from my lips and Sebastian narrowed his gaze at me. “Sorry. Nobodylooks good with a man-bun.”
“That’snot true,” he countered, pointing his fork at me with a raise of his browbefore turning it on his mother. “And by the way, missy, I don’talwayshave it in astupid knot. I let it down when I’m playing. It looksbadass, and the ladies love it.”
“Idon’t need to know about you and yourladies,” Ronnie snorted, waving a franticand dismissive hand. “And you shouldn’t be talking about that garbage with yourson around anyway. You don’t want to be a bad influence on him.”
Immediately,Ronnie had taken to Greyson for who he was in the family: her grandson.Sebastian’sson. While it was something I was still getting used to, there hadn’t been anyresistance period for her. It just was. And Sebastian seemed to teeter on someinvisible line, not yet ready to commit to titles and formal names. Maybe hewas just afraid of scaring the kid away.
“He’sfifteen, Mom,” Sebastian grumbled.
“Yeah,and do I need to remind you of what I was catchingyoudoing atfifteen?” She shook her head, stifling a smile as she turned to Greyson. “Youcan assume that if he’s done it, you shouldn’t.”
Greyson’seyes sparkled with laughter, flitting his gaze between Ronnie and Sebastian.“What were you doing at fifteen?” he asked, challenging Sebastian with a grin Ihadn’t seen in months.
“Don’tyou dare answer that,” Ronnie scolded her son, as Sebastian raised his browsbefore uttering a stern, “Don’t you worry about what I was doing. Just worryabout yourself.”
Ithink Sebastian doubted his ability to mature and be a father just as much as Idid. I think maybe he also thought he was too far gone. His eyes met mine, asthough looking for my approval and reassurance—as though it mattered—and Ioffered him a smile and a gentle nod.
“Comeon,” Greyson laughed, grabbing another piece of garlic bread.
“Nope,”Sebastian shook his head.
“Man!”Greyson whined, the volume of his voice ringing through the dining room. Igiggled under my breath. “I need to know what I’ve gotta do to get into the lifestyle.”
“Whatlifestyle, honey?” Ronnie asked him, not using the brash tone she used withSebastian.
“Youknow,” Greyson responded, “rock and roll.”
Ishook my head. “Greyson, you don’t need—”
“Whatwas I saying earlier?” Sebastian interjected, his steely glare aimed across thetable at the scowling, shrugging teenager. “I told you to focus on drumming andyour schoolwork. Right?”
“Yeah,but what does that have to do with, like, girls and stuff?”
Sebastian’seye roll piqued my interest. “Let me tell you something about all that, okay?Girlsand stuff? That shit is a distraction. Nobody really gives a fuck about howmany chicks you’ve slept with. Nobody behind the scenes is saying, ‘Oh, yeah,that dude Greyson’s banged six hundred women.’ No. Behind the scenes, they’retalking about how well you play and how well you play with others. Trust me.Nobody wants to work with a fucking douchebag, okay? Don’t be a fuckingdouchebag.”
Greysongrumbled, slouching in his chair and resuming his dinner. Ronnie smiled at herson, an aura of pride clearly emanating. Sebastian just continued to eat likehe hadn’t just made the most brash, most enlightening speech either ofGreyson’s parents had ever made before. And me?
