“You never could hold your liquor,” she tsked, albeit lovingly.
I frowned and slid my sunglasses in place. “I resent that.”
“Resent it all you want. Don’t change the truth. You get that from your grandmother.”
My lips twitched in acceptance. There were worse things to inherit.
She smoothed her hand over my shoulder, her eyes taking in my pale-yellow yoga set. “At least you look cute. Where’s this set from?”
I was about to tell her when Rico walked up and handed me the bottle of water I requested. Then he faced my mom.
“Black coffee, one sugar.” He extended a small cup of coffee in her direction, and she accepted it with a charmed smile. Then he draped his arm loosely around my shoulders without missing a beat.
“Thank you, baby.” She pinned her attention back on me. “You know, Harlow, when I saw you from across the way, I thought you’d be here with your new beau. But hey, Rico.”
I didn’t need to look at him to know he was flashing her his platinum smile.
They fell into a conversation, and I let my eyes wander around the market, eventually settling on the ocean across the street.
Before long, the only thing I noticed were the waves kissing the shoreline and the small gathering of people setting up on the sand for a day at the beach.
Coolers.
Folding chairs.
Unruly umbrellas.
I let the scene unfolding mesmerize me until Rico cleared his throat. Blinking, I looked at him then my mother just in time for her to ask,
“Have you met this mystery man of hers?”
Amusement washed over his face and his brows danced as he gave me a sidelong glance. “Yeah, nice guy. Think I heard her drop the L word a few times too.”
Despite the scalding sun, I froze in place, noting the beginnings of his devious grin.
He wasn’t slick.
I might have been a clumsy drunk who lost all my fine motor skills that night, but I rememberedthat. I just didn’t know he had…
This pulled another animated heave out of my mother. One so loud I worried about her poor lungs. “Oh, my goodness. Sweetie, bring him by the house. Does he like soul food?” She caughtherself and laughed. “Oh, please. It’s Onyx Cove, everybody likes soul food. I’ll make him smothered chicken over rice with green beans.”
“You got my stomach growling, Ms. Yvie.” Rico hummed appreciatively and I trapped my bottom lip between my teeth to conceal my smile.
My mother looked proud of herself and pursed her painted lips. All I could focus on was the fact that I was roasting in this sun and she didn’t have a bead of sweat on her perfect face. “Does he like cornbread or biscuits? Oh, I can just make both.”
“Mom.”
“Sorry, sweetie,” she gushed, grabbing my free hand. “I’m just so excited.”
Shedidlook excited. I just wondered how excited she’d be if she knew I was with three men. Three men she’d watched me grow up with. One of them being my ex-stepbrother.
Especially whenbrotherlywas the last thing I thought about the man with his arm around me right now. There was nothing brotherly about the way he’d woken me up this morning. And there was nothing sisterly about the way I wanted him to do it again.
And again.
Not to mention, I was ninety-nine percent sure two of my boyfriends had become boyfriends this morning.
A shiver crawled up my spine at the memory, forcing me to uncap my water bottle and take my first gulp.
