23. Cole
CHAPTER 23
COLE
“Who’s the girl?” My head whips around in the direction of my mom.
We’re sitting in the family room drinking homemade hot chocolate with mini marshmallows. It was always my favorite growing up and she makes it every time I’m home.
“What girl?” I play stupid.
“Don’t play stupid with me, son.”
I shouldn’t be surprised she catches right on. My mom has always known things she shouldn’t. She misses nothing.
“Mom, there’s no girl.” I drink my hot chocolate, ignoring her gaze boring into the side of my head.
“Really? Then who did you sneak out onto the front porch to talk to yesterday? Mind you, it was freezing cold, and you didn’t even put a coat on. Could get sick, but it’s not like you’d listen to me anyway, since naturally as your mother I know nothing. Like I definitely don’t know that you were talking to someone on the phone in your room last night.”
“Mom—”
“I hope one day you have children, and they think you’re dumb too and don’t tell you a thing even when you know. A parent always knows.” She taps her forehead.
“It’s complicated.”
“Is she married?”
“No,” I snort.
“A criminal?”
“No.”
“Does she hate waffles?”
“Waffles?”
“Just making sure you’re paying attention. I don’t see the problem here.”
My hot chocolate tastes sour all of a sudden and I set it on the table beside me, careful to put the mug on the coaster so I don’t get reprimanded.
“I don’t want to get into it.” She stares at me, daring me to think I can get away with telling her next to nothing. “She’s my roommate. She replaced Teddy after he bailed, remember?”
“I remember, you just conveniently lying about your roommate. Is Zach even a real person? I see how it is.”
“Mom.”
“Go on.” She wiggles her fingers for me to continue, but the look in her eyes tells me I’ll have hell to pay later for straight up lying to her about my roommate situation.
“Anyway, she’s dealing with things. She had a crappy ex and she transferred to Aldridge to reconnect with her dad, and he happens to be my basketball coach.”
“Ooh.” She sits up straighter, smiling. “This is juicy. Like those soap operas I love.”
“It’s complicated,” I repeat. “Not juicy.”
“If you like her and she likes you, then there’s really nothing complicated about it, just your own fears and worries. Sometimes you have to take a leap. See how things go. Like your father and I.”
“It was hard for you two, wasn’t it?”
“Love is always hard. But yes, ours was a little extra complicated. It was all worth it. It’s still worth it.” She gets a wistful expression. “I love your dad with all my heart. We have a beautiful family and grandbabies. I couldn’t ask for more. I want the same for you.”
“It’ll happen one day, Mom.”
She looks at me seriously. “Don’t let the one slip by because you’re waiting for one day . Things usually happen when we least expect it.”
“You’re getting wise in your old age.”
She gasps, tossing a pillow at me which I dodge easily. “Who are you calling old?”
“Well, there’s only two of us in the room and I’m definitely not the old one.”
She cackles, shaking her head. “I thought I raised you better than this.”
My eyes soften. “You raised me the best, Mom.”
“I sure hope so.” Sobering, she says, “I want you to be happy.”
“I am.”
“All I’m saying is, the last thing that should ever hold you back in life is fear.”
“I’m not afraid.”
Her eyes narrow and at first, I think she’s not going to say anything else, but then she adds, “Are you sure about that?”