“We can talk about it later,” I said, forcing a smile.
“Thank you so much, Asher. I really do love you.”
“I love you, too.”
We said our goodbyes, and then I hung up. After tossing my phone back on the bed, I lay back and closed my eyes. I was exhausted. I couldn’t wait until this wedding was over and I was fully into my new life, wherever that was.
These last few weeks had been a roller coaster of emotions, and I was ready to feel settled. Even if where I settled wasn’t where I’d thought it would be.
I closed my eyes for fifteen minutes until I pulled myself off my bed and headed into the kitchen to collect my keys and wallet. I’d grab a coffee and a breakfast sandwich on my way to the airport. I was ready to see Mom and just connect with her.
I needed that.
When I got to the airport, I parked in short-term parking and got out. I walked through the sliding doors, found an arrival schedule, and located the suitcase corral she would be at. I was on my phone when people started to gather around me, so I slipped it into my back pocket and glanced around in search of her.
I broke out into a smile when I saw her walk through the sliding doors that led into the baggage claim area. My gaze locked on her as I pushed through the crowd. And as soon as I got to her, I scooped her up into a hug.
“Oof, Asher!” Mom protested but then wrapped me up in a hug. “It’s so good to see you,” she said, her voice muffled by my shoulder.
I pulled back and smiled down at her. “I’ve missed you,” I said.
She reached up and patted my cheek. “Of course you have. I’m very miss-able.”
I chuckled as I glanced down to see that she had dropped a large bag next to her. “Let me,” I said, reaching down and grabbing it before she could. “How was your flight?” I asked as I pulled the straps up onto my shoulder.
She yawned, and the cart corral beeped as the belt started moving. We made our way over to stand next to the chute. “Long,” she said.
“I bet.”
“Why do you have to live so far away?”
I glanced down at her. “Maybe you should move closer,” I said, wiggling my eyebrows and grinning at her.
“Move to North Carolina?” She narrowed her eyes before her expression relaxed. “Maybe.”
I had not expected that answer. “Really?”
She raised her pointer finger. “Only if you and Coralie promise to give me some grandbabies.”
I recoiled, her words catching me off guard. She must have picked up on my reaction because she frowned as she studied me. “Asher?” she asked.
I blinked and forced myself to focus on her. “Yeah?”
She frowned. “You okay?”
I nodded. “Yep.” My brain was slowly catching up to what she’d said.Me. Coralie. Grandbabies.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Mom ran her gaze over my face, her eyebrows knit together with worry.
“Sorry.” I forced a smile. “You just caught me off guard.”
Mom pulled back and frowned. “Talking about grandbabies caught you off guard?”
I shoved my hands into my front pockets and shrugged. “Just a little. Yeah.”
She folded her arms across her chest. “You and Coralie are planning on having some kids, right?”
This conversation was making me uncomfortable. “We haven’t really talked about it,” I said, moving my gaze over to the suitcases now circling the belt.
