Page 40 of Just My Puck
My mom answers on the first ring.
“How are you doing, my boy?” she asks, her warm voice making me smile.
“Hey, Mom. I’m good. How are you?”
“Oh, I’m just fine. Eager tohave all my children under one roof again. Christmas can’t come fast enough.”
“About that,” I begin, sitting down. “Can you make space for one more?”
“For who? The girl who’s living with you?”
I swallow hard, my stomach dropping. How does she know about that? I purposely kept it a secret until now, hoping to keep my mom’s matchmaking tendencies at bay. But she somehow found out, and she didn’t bother me about it? That’s a first.
“Garrett told your dad,” she explains after a short pause.
“Oh, right.” I close my eyes, feeling stupid for not realizing it sooner. Garrett may be a detective, but he and my dad are good friends. “Well, yeah, it’s for Aria. I don’t want her to spend Christmas alone, and since she still has no idea who she is, I thought it’d be a good idea.”
“Absolutely. I’d love to meet her,” Mom chirps with a little too much enthusiasm.
“Mom, you do know there’s nothing going on between Aria and me, right? We’re just friends. I’m helping her out because I’m responsible for her injury.”
“And you’re a good man for doing that, son. I’m proud of you.”
I release a quick breath. “Okay, just wanted to clear that up. Please don’t make her uncomfortable by poking her about this. She’s already in a tricky situation, and it’s going to be awkward enough for her.”
“Oh, come on,” she scolds. “You act like I’m some awful person who gets a kick out of asking uncomfortable questions.”
I grimace. I know my mom means well, but sometimes, she does go overboard. “No, Mom. I just want her to feel welcomed, that’s all.”
“Don’t you worry. She’ll have a great time. What does she like? Nothing like a gift to break the ice.”
“Good point. She loves books, romance mainly, so I’m sure that would be a hit. Thanks, Mom.”
“Any time, honey. Are you ready for the game tonight? Your dad will be working late, but I’ll watch.”
“Ready as we’ll ever be.” I nod, looking out the window.
“And will your pretty guest be watching your game too?” she asks in a sly voice.
“Mom! See, that’s just what I’m talking about. You can’t say stuff like that when we’re there for Christmas.”
“What? I’m just asking a simple question. So, she is pretty, right?” she presses.
Oh, gosh. I massage my forehead, trying to find a way out of this hole. “Mom . . .”
“I knew it,” she says with a small squeal.
I scoff, “I didn’t even say anything!”
“Exactly. I know you well enough, Caleb. If you didn’t find her attractive, you would have said something. Like, ‘She’s not my type.’ Or ‘I haven’t really paid attention.’”
Great. My mom can see right through me. “Fine—I guess she’s pretty. But that doesn’t change anything. We’re not dating, okay?”
“Okay, okay,” she says, sounding a little defensive. “But for the record, it would make me very happy for you to have someone to share that big house with. These are your prime years. I want you to be happy and enjoy life with someone who loves you.”
“Mom,” I groan.
“I know, honey. I’m just saying. Anyway, I’d better go. See you next week?”
