Page 48 of Mistletoe Misses
“That’s baby step number one checked off the list.”
Chapter 11
Maddox
Hey, Mom,” I call from the living room. She’s in the kitchen with Izzie, preparing an early dinner before the parade. “I need to show you something.”
I snuck Cooper in through the front door when he arrived, not bothering with a sneakier operation since she was tucked away and deep in conversation.
“What is it, Mad—” Her hands cover her mouth at the first sight of Cooper beside me, his arm braced over my shoulders. He’s in full camo, his light brown hair mussed as if he drove the Humvee straight here from a training exercise.
“Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes,” he says, forever a momma’s boy, but in the best way.
I watch them embrace and, of course, Mom’s crying. I wish I’d had this up-close, outside viewpoint of my reunion with her. The love pouring out of them is a cooling balm on my wounds, and I could have benefited from this euphoria that day.
“Are Kendall and Aaron here yet?” Cooper asks.
“Not until tomorrow. I can’t believe you made it.”
“Couldn’t miss this guy finally crawling out of his hole.” He tosses a thumb at me over his shoulder.
“It’s a blessing.” She frames his cheeks with her hands, pure joy sparkling in her eyes. “All my kids will be under one roof again. I never thought I’d see the day.”
Cooper twists to glare at me, implying it’s my fault Mom’s been denied this happiness. He’s mostly right.
“My bad.”
They both laugh at my stupid response, then Mom circles an arm around Cooper’s back. “Come. Izzie would love to see you, too.”
“She’s here?” he asks, and the last part of my heart still intact—the corner reserved for my family—squeezes for him.
He holds his position, preventing her from leading him further, and lowers his voice. “How is she? She’s incessantly positive in her emails, trying not to worry me.”
“She’s doing what she can, and we’re filling in the gaps.”
“Cooper?” Izzie steps into the living room, the sight of him draining her strength, and she folds under the weight of her emotion.
“I’m here,” he says, kneeling before her and letting her crumble into his arms.
Mom and I step away to give them space but can’t help but watch. The sweet moment rivals any romantic movie I’ve ever seen, and thanks to all the fierce women in my life who don’t take no for an answer, I’ve seen more than my fair share.
“What is it with my boys?” Mom whispers, tipping her head to rest on my shoulder.
“I’ve got plenty of potential answers to that open-ended question.”
“Let me be more specific, then. Why do you withhold your heart from the women you love?”
“Mom…”
“You love so completely but painfully silent.”
“It’s complicated for us both. You know that.”
“Speaking of complicated, how’d it go with Carmen last night?” She turns her back to Cooper and Izzie to see my face and wiggles her brow. “I heard talk of you two getting cozy after the duck race.”
My eyes roll without consent. “It went as expected—awkward and confusing. We’re giving it another go tonight.”
“At the parade?”
