to leave you here all alone if I get sent out during your visit.” He had enough guilt for living on the other side of the country from her as it was.
“That’s fine. There are lots of things to do in the area to keep me busy. So it’s okay if I come?”
“Yeah. Sure. Of course. I can sleep on the sofa and you can have my bed—”
“Oh, no. I don’t want to put you out. I’ll stay at a hotel.”
“If you’d be more comfortable. Sure. There are plenty around here that offer a military discount. I can book the room for you.”
“No need. I have reservations already.”
“Where?”
“Hotel Coronado. I’ve always wanted to stay there. Ever since I saw it when I visited for your graduation ceremony.”
Jeez. Was this what a female mid-life crisis looked like? Flying cross country on a whim. Staying at fancy, pricey hotels.
“Sounds expensive,” he laughed, pretending to joke when he was honestly starting to worry about her finances. She’d always lived a modest life. This new behavior was not typical.
“You only live once,” she said.
“True,” he answered as his brain spun. “So what dates will you be here?”
She gave him the dates, which spanned her birthday.
“What do you want to do on your birthday?” he asked.
“Nothing fancy. I’d love to just have dinner with my favorite child.”
“I’m your only child, but are you sure you don’t want to do something more special?
“Nope. Just dinner with my boy.”
“All right. If that’s what you want.”
“It is. Oh, I’m getting another call. Can we talk more tomorrow?”
Another call? At this hour?
“Sure.”
“Okay. Bye. Love you.”
“Love you—” He barely got the last word out before she’d disconnected.
What the hell was going on? Who was calling his mother in the middle of the night?
He didn’t have to look too far for the most likely suspect. It was probably the man she’d been out with tonight. On Valentine’s Day. The man who’d put that chipper lilt in her voice.
Probably the same man who’d convinced her it was a good idea to fly to California and stay at the Hotel Coronado for her birthday.
He narrowed his eyes. He was going to get answers about this guy while she was here, if not before.
Laying down his cell, he realized his obsession with his mother’s love life had almost made him forget about his own fake one.
He picked up the cell again and punched in a text to Alicia.
BRIAN: The guys are still suspicious. You up for another trip to McP’s to convince them we’re a real couple?
ALICIA: Sure. When?”
He wasn’t up for setting a date right now. He needed time to plan.
BRIAN: I’ll let you know.
ALICIA: OK
The truth was he’d be far more excited about the prospect of both pulling one over on the team and seeing her again if he weren’t so damn worried about his mother’s shady love life.
It seemed they both had secrets.
ELEVEN
Alicia woke the next morning with a dry mouth and a dull headache.
This couldn’t be a hangover. She hadn’t been that drunk. Had she?
She just needed a glass of water and a couple of cups of coffee and she’d be fine. Back to normal. Ready to get on with her day.
She had a full day planned of cleaning her closet.
The organizational article she’d seen online had gotten her fired up. She couldn’t wait to hang her clothing by color. It was a truly brilliant plan. So logical. She couldn’t believe she’d never thought of it before.
Excited to get started, but still dragging, she slipped out of bed and shuffled to the kitchen to quench her thirst and her need for caffeine.
Unfortunately, her sister had other plans. Before she even put the water into the coffee maker, her cell lit and then started to ring.
“Good morning,” Jen practically sang when Alicia answered the call. It seemed Jen was not only awake, but also bright eyed and bushy tailed, unlike Alicia.
“Is it?” she asked.
“Yes. I’m excited.”
“Why?” She honestly couldn’t guess.
“I found a new recipe for vegan lasagna for when you and Brian come for dinner Saturday night.”
She cringed. Nothing about vegan lasagna sounded good to her. Good thing she had a plan all set to get out of it. “Yeah, about that. Sorry. We won’t be able to make it. Brian’s got a SEAL thing.”
“What kind of SEAL thing?”
“He can’t give me details. You know, classified stuff. But he’s leaving Thursday, I think he said, for an indefinite amount of time. But he’ll definitely be away Saturday.”
“Actually, this works out perfectly.