“What is it?” I ask. “You’re grinning ear to ear.”
“I haven’t seen you this excited about anything since… well, since ever.”
“That’s not true. I’ve been excited for everything you’ve done.”
“Not like this. You’re so animated today. It’s a nice change, even if it is a little strange.”
“Thank you, I guess.”
“Are you seeing someone?” he asks, which completely comes out of the blue. He’s never once asked me about my love life. I’m taken aback and fidget with my almost-empty water glass while trying to think of what to say.
“Sorry to pry,” he says. “You never talk about it. I thought it may explain why you’re so happy all of a sudden.”
“Well, this project is the biggest thing I’ve worked on in a long time, and it’s coming together really nicely. It’s everything I wanted to do when I quit my job. But, if I’m being honest, the girl who owns the antique shop with her grandmother…. Well, she’s special.”
Mason’s face lit up. “So you do have a girlfriend?”
“No, no, no. We had one lunch date and said we’d see each other next time I’m in town. It’s very early. While I do like her, I have some reservations.”
“Like what?”
This feels like an out-of-body experience. I never thought I’d talk to my son about dating. Ever.
“She’s younger. She’s only thirty. Hell, she’s closer to your age than mine.” I sigh and run my fingers through my hair. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.”
“If she likes you, and you’re on the same page, it shouldn’t matter.”
Somehow, hearing the validation from Mason calms my anxiety like a blanket on a fire. Having his stamp of approval is everything to me.
“Maybe you’re right. We’ll see where it goes. It’s still early.”
“Well,” says Mason, “I want to see this hotel when it’s done. It sounds incredible.”
“It will be, yes.”
We eat dinner, talk sports, and he gets back in his car to drive to Tuscaloosa. I stand in the empty street and watch his taillights disappear. It’s a strange thing when your child becomes your peer, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. He’s my best friend.
I return to my loft, trying to think of a reason to text Micah, but fall asleep before coming up with anything.
That night, I dream of dancing with her in the sparkling ballroom of the Florablanca Inn.
MICAH
For the entire week after Labor Day, Nana and I are busy rearranging the store and cataloguing everything we bought the week before. Patsy’s husband Garion and his brother had to come on Wednesday after hours to help me move and reassemble some of the heavier pieces, and by Friday, we have a packed store full of new-to-us items.
I’ve only had brief texts with Garrett since I saw him in Montgomery. If I’m being honest with myself, I much prefer the company of the definitely-successful, intelligent, sexy architect over the insecure, who-knows-if-he-even-has-a-real-job, boring computer guy.
When I take a step back and compare the two, it’s comical. There is no comparison. Rhodes is leaps and bounds better than Garrett. The problem is I still don’t feel like I’m good enough for him, and it makes me uncomfortable. He could get any thin, confident, educated girl he wants. Why would he want me?
I’m walking through the store with my phone, recording a video to show off our new products on social media, when I catch Nana standing in her office door, giving me an amused look.
“You know the chandelier you asked about?”
“For Rhodes?”
“That’s the one. I called Julian since I figured he would know what happened to it.”
“And?”
