Page 147 of Home Game

It didn’t sound right to call Zoey my roommate. I didn’t know what she was. “Sort of.”

“How did you meet?”

I didn’t want to get into all that. “It’s a long story.”

“Well, I can’t wait to meet her.”

“She’s kind of shy, so just go easy on her.”

“If she’s living with my son, I have the right to get to know her.”

“She was homeless.”

“Excuse me?”

I explained how we met and how she ended up living with me.

Mom sounded horrified. “Are you sleeping with her?”

“Mom!”

“Ryan,you have to admit this is very concerning from a mother’s perspective.”

“Just…you have to meet her.”

But when we got home, Zoey wasn’t around. She had put fresh sheets on the guest bed, stacked clean towels on the end of the bed, and had cleaned the guest bathroom.

“So where is she?”

I opened my bedroom door. Zoey was out cold. “She’s asleep.”

“In your bed?”

“I only have two beds, mom.”

“I guess I can meet her in the morning.”

I hadan early practice and then a meeting with my personal trainer, so when I left the apartment, both my mom and Zoey were still asleep. How would their first meeting go? I ended up cutting my session short with my trainer, so I could get home.

It shouldn’t have, but it surprised me to find them in the kitchen cooking together. My mom had her arm around Zoey’s shoulder and spoke to her in a gentle tone.

“Exactly like that. You put a little twist on the end and it’s done.”

“What’s going on?” I dropped my bag at the door.

Zoey’s eyes shone. “Your mom’s teaching me how to make Butterhorns.”

My mouth watered. I loved my mom’s Butterhorns. “Wow.”

I sat down at the island and watched them work. Zoey remained engrossed in her task and my mom worked around her, cleaning up. They seemed comfortable with each other and totally in sync.

Zoey slid the pan into the oven and my mom set the timer.

“I should go work,” Zoey smiled shyly at my mom. “Thanks for baking with me.”

My mom squeezed her shoulders. “It was my pleasure.”

I watched as Zoey disappeared into my bedroom and then turned to look at my mom.

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