up to since Adrian and Kane’s barbecue?” She ruffled my hair, an old affectionate gesture left over from when I used to be shorter than her. “You’re usually the quietest at family dinner, so I never feel like we’ve gotten caught up.”
“Well, work is going pretty good. I’m busy at least. Been talking to Dad about growing things, taking my business bigger.”
“That’s great, Leo. I’m pleased things are going that well. Not that I ever doubted you. How about outside work, though?” She smiled like she needed to entice me to talk.
I hesitated, unsure how much to tell her. “Well, I’m volunteering on that program Kairo’s setting up at the hospital—that’s going pretty well. I have a kid to mentor—Ricky. He’s pretty cool.” I stopped talking but she didn’t stop watching me.
I watched her back for a few moments as I warred with myself over what to tell her. Shayne and I were so new still, so raw in too many ways, and the fewer people I let in to our circle, the fewer people could damage what we were trying to regrow.
Except. I closed my eyes so I didn’t have to see her while I came to my decision. Except Shayne had already tried keeping us a secret, and that was what had fucked everything up the first time. I had to try another way. And that required honesty.
I took a deep breath and opened my eyes. “Shayne and I are trying again.”
Mom sat straighter and her eyes flashed with a blaze of her quick temper. “What?”
“I said we’re trying—”
She slapped her hand on the counter and whirled away from me, standing up and crossing to the other side of my room. “I heard you.” When she turned back, her arms were wrapped around herself. “But what are you doing? What are you thinking? How can you even… I can’t… I can’t watch you go through that again. I can’t go through that again. You’ve come too far, Leo.”
She stalked to the oven to get the meatballs and set it in front of me.
I nodded, confidence in myself growing at her words of acknowledgment. “I am stronger. I’ve changed. And Shayne’s changed, Mom. He’s not that same kid and neither am I. We’re both different, and we both want to at least try.”
“But the things he did.” Mom’s eyes were wide.
And I got it. I really did. “I know this is hard to understand. I barely understand what I’m doing myself. It’s certainly somewhere I never thought I’d go again—and definitely not with Shayne. But I feel something. And I need to explore it.”
She shook her head, the movement so slight I almost didn’t see it. Then she relaxed, but it was almost like all the fight had drained out of her. “Okay,” she whispered. Then she spoke louder. “Okay. If this is what you want, I’m here for you. And if the past is the past as far as you’re concerned, then it’s the past for me, too. You know you’ve always got my support, and your dad’s. And I’m sure your brothers’, too.” She smiled softly. “All of us. We’re a team.”
Then she wandered back to her seat and took a sip of her water. “Just be really careful because his parents have got a reputation around town.”
Grinned. “Yeah. I know a little about that.”
She chuckled. “They’re absolute dickwads, Leo, and I don’t want either of them speaking to you the way Shayne’s mother did to Adrian.”
I wanted to laugh. My unease made me want to laugh, but Mom needed reassurance more than she needed my amusement. “Okay. Mom, I promise I’m being really careful.”
She cracked a small smile and pressed a soft kiss to my temple. “I just want my boys to all be happy. Maybe you especially because you’ve been so unhappy in the past. I need to know you’re okay and that whoever you’re with truly appreciates the amazing person you are. I can’t help feeling that way—I’m your mom. It’s my job. I’ll do anything I can to help you, and I just want everything to work out.” She stood and took my empty plate to the sink, rinsing it before she loaded it into the dishwasher. “You like the food?”
“Absolutely.”
“Good. I’ll see you on Sunday?” Back to business Mom.
“Always.”
“Great. Bring Shayne.” Then she turned and left, closing the front door quietly behind her as my mouth dropped open at her last words.
Five minutes later, there was another knock on my door, and