Page 40 of Hunt for the Roses
My mom just started dating Chris a couple months ago, and I never feel weird about her dating men, just protective. If there is one thing I can promise, it’s that if the guy my mom’s dating decides to hurt her, he’ll have to answer to me.
My mom stretches a wide grin on her face. “Great, actually. He’s...refreshing.”
I take another bite of my apple as I saunter back over to my original position at the kitchen counter, next to my mom. I lean my hip against it as I face her and say, “Good. Wasn’t exactly in the mood to play the overprotective son tonight.”
My mom rolls her eyes. “Oh, you’re being ridiculous, Dane. I can take care of myself.”
“Doesn’t mean I can’t care,” I say before taking another bite of my apple.
“Well, you’re off duty for the night,” my mom jokes.
“Great, because last night kicked my ass,” I say.
“Oh, that’s right! You and your friends celebrated on the beach. How was it?”
I shrug as I chew what’s left in my mouth and swallow. “Unsurprisingly, a good time. Drank, kicked back, watched fireworks going off over the pier.”
“Doesn’t sound too chaotic for you to be exhausted.”
I shrug again as I take the last bite of my apple, and go to throw the remnants of the fruit in the garbage under the sink. “Aria got a little carried away with her drinking, so I looked after her.”
“I’m sure the holidays are hard for her. But she’s lucky to have you as a friend,” my mom says from behind me.
When I hear the word “friend” come from my mom’s mouth, a tinge of irritation flares within me. After last night, I’ve been thinking about how the friendship between Aria and I has evolved. How I’m getting to know little details about Aria I never would’ve known if it weren’t for Ronnie asking me to look out for her. As happy as I am to be there for Aria and spend time with her, there’s a part of me that is resentful of being given this task. It almost feels like I’ve been pulled too deep into something I may not be able to dig myself out of. Because the more Aria opens up to me, the more my interest is piqued.
I can hold an honest conversation with her, and she’s so damn funny and carefree at the same time. I laugh effortlessly when I’m around her, and she keeps up with my own humor better than most women I know. It’s unexpected, and I don’t think I’ve ever found someone so…sexy. And I’m not just referring to her looks, even though Aria’s undoubtedly beautiful.
It’s hersoulthat draws me in.
But a “friend” can’t act on these types of feelings. There’s nothing for me to do with these new emotions brewing within me, and I feel like my hands are tied behind my back with the position Ronnie put me in. And for that matter, the position I’ve been in ever since she dated Kyle. All that’s left for me to do is admire Aria from afar while other men admire her up close.
Great.
Tired of thinking about this any longer, I close the cabinet under the sink and make my way to the fridge to start getting out the hamburger meat to grill.
“Yeah,” I say, keeping my response short and simple.
“Hey, Dane, how are you?”
I close the fridge door once I retrieve the packages of meat, and turn to see Chris standing at my side. I extend my free hand to shake his. “Hey, not bad. You?”
“Can’t complain too much,” Chris responds.
I start walking toward the spice rack on the kitchen counter. “Hopefully my mom’s not causing you too many headaches,” I joke.
“Oh, please,” my mom interjects.
I smile as I look through the spice rack for what I need. “I kid, I kid.”
“Well the latest would be that your mom wants a puppy,” Chris says from behind me.
I pick out a couple spices and turn around to face both of them with furrowed brows. “A puppy?” Chris leans himself against the fridge with his palm as he smirks at my mother, and I look to my mom as I say, “You do know that you need to actually train it, right?”
My mom throws her hands up as if she’s offended. “Why is it such a ridiculous idea to think I can properly train a dog?”
I chuckle. “Because you don’t have the time. I know you.”
“Well, maybe I just need a change in routine,” my mom counters, but it sounds like she’s trying to convince herself.
