10. Chapter 9
~ Mason ~
A week later, I couldn’t help but eavesdrop over a phone conversation between Patty and her son.
He was coming up on his break and wanted to come up to see his mom.
And while I didn’t want him to stay here, even though his mom was, I also didn’t want her place to be ready because that would mean that she would have to leave.
And I found that having sex whenever I want was a whole lot harder to have if she wasn’t living with me.
But I also knew that his coming wasn’t just to check out the town and her diner.
It was to check me out. Especially since I heard them talking about me once more.
She kept arguing about something, but once I heard my name, I left.
I didn’t need to hear it because I had no doubt she would talk to me about it.
Which she did.
She told me about her son’s concerns, and I wanted to laugh it off, because it was evident he didn’t know her mom, or what she wanted or liked.
And knowing her, I had no doubt that she tried talking to him about it too and he probably didn’t want to hear it.
Not that I could blame him. When I was his age, I sure didn’t want to think about my mom having sex with my dad.
“Dixon is coming in two days. I’m hoping my place is done by then,” she told me, sitting next to me on the couch. She curled her legs under and leaned against me.
“I mean, there’s a room he can stay in at the diner if not, because there’s no room in my cabin.”
“I’m sure he doesn’t want that. Don't need to scare the poor kid either with our moans.”
I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head.
“He’s still not coming to terms with all of that, is he?”
“No. I mean, I'm the parent, the adult, I know what I want with my life. He makes it sound like I’m in a nursing home and he has to take care of me or something. But I’m not there yet. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like it’s not understood, but it’s a bit much sometimes.”
“He’s a kid who is looking out for his mom, can’t blame him.”
“I don’t. I just wish I could smack him enough for him to see why he needs to stop being like this,” she told me, laughing a little.
“It’s been him and I since his dad walked out of our lives and didn’t look back.
Which was always fun raising a boy alone, but we made do.
Even from a little age, he took it upon himself to look out for me, which I always found endearing. Now, I’m finding it annoying.”
I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped because I could see that.
Patty was a very independent woman who didn’t take too well to asking for help, or having it offered. So, even though this was her kid, someone she raised alone, someone she loved fiercely, he was still pushing the wrong buttons on her and it was great.
Okay, maybe not so much for me, because by him coming to check things out, he was putting a damper on all my plans of being buried in her, but I still was able to acknowledge how funny this was.
“He doesn’t see it, does he? How he’s pushing you?”
“Oh, I’m sure he does. Does he care? Probably not. He’s a young man who has no woman to dote on. I know when the time comes, I’ll be pushed aside. But his focus is school and myself, so I’m sort of stuck.”
“Do you want him dating?”
“He has. He really is a great catch, and one day, he is going to make a fine husband. But per his own words, he wants the good job, the good life, then he’ll look for the good wife.
I always like to knock him down a peg or two and tell him that wife is going to land in his lap a lot faster than he thinks he will and his plans are going to shit. ”
Once more, I busted out laughing. Patty really was something else.
We both jumped at the sound of someone pounding on the door, and I frowned. I wasn’t expecting anyone and usually my friends were good about texting if they wanted to come over. I got up and opened the door, my eyes opening slightly at the young man standing on my doorstep.
~ Patty ~
I saw the figure past Mason and I couldn’t believe my eyes. I jumped off the couch and ran to my son, engulfing him in a big hug.
“I’ve missed you,” I told him, squeezing him. His arms wrapped around my waist, and he held on just as tightly.
“I missed you too, Mom.”
After several moments, I pulled back, cupping his face to smile at him.
“Now why the hell are you here early?”
He laughed as he just shook his head. “Well, how else am I to surprise the happy couple?”
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at him. He wasn’t going to let this go at all, and I just knew it. Maybe he didn’t catch on how annoying this was for me. I truly did understand his feelings and I respected them; they were valid. I’d be the same way if it was my parents too.
But that didn’t give him the right to barge in here, unannounced, and it certainly didn’t give him the right to keep pushing me to ‘behave’. As if I was a little one in need of the scolding.
That was something I was going to have to fix now, even if it meant he went back to college with hurt feelings. Dixon was my boy, but I knew he couldn’t stay mad at his mom for long.
“Get in here, Dixon,” I told him, ushering him into the house. I didn’t want to have this talk with him at Mason’s place, was kind of hoping I’d be in my own cabin, even though it still wasn’t ready. But this was fine. Maybe it would only drive home my feelings.
“Thanks.” He walked into the cabin, eyeing Mason.
“Mason, my son Dixon. Dix, Mason,” I said, sitting down at the table and waiting for them to shake hands.
Although the veins popped out on Mason’s arm, which I had seen time and time again and it still made me cross my legs, I knew there was a power play there.
“Cut it out, you two. Dixon, come sit down.”
They finally dropped their hands, and I watched as my son took the chair next to me.
He had grown and changed since I last saw him, which was about six months ago.
I liked the little scruff he was sporting, and the way he was styling his hair now.
I also totally believed with his looks and his charm, he was going to be bringing home a wife a whole lot sooner than he thought.
“How did you get here? I was going to pick you up from the airport.”
“Uber,” he said, making a face. “I'm going to need some extra cash by the way.”
I rolled my eyes but made a mental note to add some money to his account.
“Fine. Thank you for the surprise, but how about before we get into all the wonderful things, we nip the worry in the butt?”
He leaned back in his chair, glancing from me to Mason and back again.
“I don’t like this, Mom.”
“Why not?”
“You don’t need to be having….screw buddies. You’re far too good for that.”
“Thank you, Dix. I’m glad you think so. However, I’m old enough to have a fuck buddy, you can say it, if I want too. I did the relationships, son, and I don’t have the time right now for that. Mason is good, he really does treat me right and he hasn’t hurt me, so I don’t see what your problem is.”
“I just think it’s beneath you.”
“Oh, there it is.” I rested my arms on the table and leaned forward. “I may not be your age, but I am not above having a good time. Let me have it. And if he hurts me, you can beat him up. I’m pretty sure he’ll let you take a swing or two.”
Dixon locked eyes with Mason before standing, his hands in his pockets.
“Treat her right, old man, or answer to me. I’m not as weak as you might think and this woman is far too precious to be hurt again.”
I didn’t know if I wanted to laugh at the threat, or swoon at how much my son loved me.
Both were pretty awesome.