“This isn’t a phase, Mama,” Inearly growled.
“I know you feel that wayright now, baby girl. This all seems very permanent. And hey, maybe you’re right.Maybe you’ll always like your skulls and bats and creepy things, but … maybenot. Maybe one day, you and Chad will be out in that backyard of his,rememberin’ this point in your lives andlaughin’ about how stupidy’allwere forlettin’ time pass by.”
“I doubt it,” I snapped, butthat night, I wished she was right.
I wished and I wished, and ifno other wish came true, please, God, let that be the one.
***
Chad’shand squeezed mine as he turned to face me. “How’s thirtytreatin’yaso far?”
Rollingmy head against the blanket, my gaze lingered on his eyes before my lipstouched his. Just once, and only for a second, before I replied, “It’s off to apretty good start.”
“Well,that’s good,‘causeit’sgonnaget even better.”
“Oh,yeah?”
Chadnodded confidently. “Yep. We have an itinerary for the day.”
“Dammit,and I thought this wasgonnabe my day off,” Ireplied coyly and kissed him again. I couldn’t stop myself. It was as though Ineeded to make up for all thattimeI could’ve beenkissing him but never did.
“Hey,I never said it wasgonnabework,” he said between kisses. “And if we keep—”
“Chad?Chad, are you still out here?” Connie called from the house.
Hesat up abruptly and scrubbed a hand over his chin. “Jesus Christ. I told them tostay at your mama’s place tonight.”
Iglanced at my watch. “Well, sweetie, itisalmost one in themornin’.”With a low grumble coming from his chest, henodded a reply.
“Chad!Can you just answer me, please? I need to know if I’mlockin’this door or not! And can I just remind you how late it is? I know you’re agrown man, but forcryin’ out loud, you still needsleep…” His mother prattled on and Isat up beside him, realizing all at once how tired I really was.
“Youreally should answer her.”
Henodded. “Yeah, I know. I’m justremindin’ myself ofwhy I should probably get my own place.”
“Onlyprobably?”
Reluctancetwisted his lips and he hesitated, before saying, “I don’t hatelivin’ here most of the time.”
“Youloveit,” I teased, touching my chinto his shoulder.
“Ilove the house, and I do love them. But I don’t always lovelivin’with ‘em,” he replied with a chuckle.
“Chad!For the love of all that is Holy!”
“Andthat,” he pointed toward the house, “is exactly why.” With a sigh, he pulled himselfto his feet and reached down for my hand. “Come on. Might as well get this overwith now.”
Mystomach churned the way it did when I was nineteen, just after I’d been caughtmaking out with my first boyfriend. I’d been a late bloomer and didn’t get theopportunity for my first kiss until I was eighteen. But regardless of age,being caught by Mama never ceased to be humiliating.
Iwas finding the same to be true at thirty.
Itwasn’t unlike taking a walk of shame as we left the clearing together. I don’teven know why. Hell, our kisses thus far had remained on a PG level, as we tookour time to bask in the infantile stage of this new thing we had. But thatstill didn’t stop the flush from creeping up over my neck, to singe my cheekswith pink and embarrassment as his mama came into view.
Itdidn’t help matters any when I noticed my own mother at her side.
“Oh,hell,” Chad muttered through the side of his mouth, darting his eyes toward me.“They came together.”
“Well,of course they did,” I hissed in reply. “They always travel as a pair. It’swhat theydo.”
