Sinful Longing (Sinful Nights, #3)(44)

Heat spread across her cheeks. She’d only said she was going out when she’d left earlier. She hadn’t uttered the word date, and she certainly hadn’t said with who. But her attire said it all.

“Out,” she said sheepishly, slipping past him. He shut the door behind her, letting it close with a loud bang.

“Out. Is that his name? You were out with Out?”

She laughed as she headed to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water. She took a long gulp then figured now was as good a time as any. Speaking the truth—at least the start of it—to Colin had been such a refreshing change from holding back. Perhaps telling her son would have a similar effect. Besides, it was the right way to handle this blossoming relationship.

She walked around to the stools at the counter and patted one. “Sit.”

“Uh-oh,” he said as he plopped down. “Am I in trouble?”

“No.” She took the other stool and crossed her legs. Nerves beat a path through her chest, but she glanced down at her tattoo. Be strong. “Alex, I made a promise when your father died that I would never put us in that situation again.”

He furrowed his brow. “What situation?”

“Me being involved with someone who’s addicted.”

“Is this the part where you tell me you met a hot meth head and you have bags of kitty litter in your car?”

She laughed softly and shook her head. “No. But major points for a good joke. Though you do know there is no such thing as a hot meth head, right?”

“Yeah. I know. Meth heads are nasty.”

She crinkled her nose. “So gross,” she said, then returned to the topic. “I’ve been seeing someone—”

“You’re dating a junkie?”

“God, no.”

“You said ‘being involved with someone addicted.’”

She nodded. “Right. I know. Because that’s the promise I made to you, and to myself, and to us. Our family. To not get involved with an addict. But, I want you to know I’ve been seeing someone who’s a recovering addict.”

“Oh,” he said, his voice flat. She didn’t know if that meant he didn’t care or he was disappointed.

“And I think he’s a really good guy,” she added.

He arched a skeptical eyebrow. “Like my dad was a good guy?”

“No. Good guy like the real deal.”

“Okay,” he said, his tone light and easy now. “So what’s the issue?”

“I want to know how you feel about that. He’s been in recovery for eight years. He’s a good, solid, strong man who hasn’t relapsed.”

He shot her a look as if she was nuts. “I don’t get it, Mom. What’s the problem? He sounds cool.”

“He is cool. You know him.”

She could see the gears turning in his head. They clicked, and he wagged his finger at her. “No way! You’re dating Colin.”

She couldn’t help but grin. “How did you guess it was him?”

“Duh.”

She jutted out her chin. “Duh, what?”

“I can’t believe you thought I wouldn’t guess him,” he said, laughing at her, clutching his belly and guffawing. Her son was actually guffawing.

She straightened her spine. “I’m sorry, but did you have radar installed?”

He stared at the ceiling as if he were deep in thought. “Hmm. Let’s see. Could it be the way you flirt with him at the center?”

“I don’t flirt with him.”

“Could it be the fact that he sent me a history app?”

“Oh, excuse me. Did it say ‘I like your mom’ on it?”

“No. But get real. What guy does that?” he scoffed.

“A nice guy,” she said insistently.

“Exactly. That’s my point. He’s a good guy. He volunteers. He helps Rex for free. And I’ve seen the goofy look you get when you’re texting.”

She was so busted. “Would you prefer that I don’t go out with him?” she asked gently, giving him the out that she felt she needed to. Alex was her top priority, and even though she prayed he’d say no, she’d have to honor his wishes if he said yes.

“No,” he said with a laugh. “It’s fine.”

“Do you mind if he comes to the match, and maybe we can all hang out and get a coffee or Coke or something?” she asked, with a cocktail of nerves and hope that she hadn’t felt since she herself was a teen asking out a boy. Such a strange feeling, to want her son’s approval so badly.

He shrugged happily. “Sure.”

“Does it bother you that he’s a recovered addict?”

He shook his head. “Mom, he’s not a thing like Dad. We’re cool.” His phone rattled, and he grabbed it. “Oh man, James just got a new cheat code.”

That was that. He’d moved on. She’d clung to fears of what their life might be like if she ventured down this path, but Alex was resilient. He’d taken his punches and gotten back up.

She was the one who’d been living in fear. He’d been living his life.

Time for her to do the same.

Fully. In every way. Not only as a mom, but as a woman, too. A woman who was falling hard for a man.