“He was hot,” Kaija says, like I’m not still annoyed that she wouldn’t stop bringing up Brandon.

I haven’t told anyone what happened between us, and I don’t intend to.

Why can’t they just accept that we didn’t work, and leave it at that?

“And clearly interested in you. And since your ex is a backstabbing jerk—,”

“Just stop!” I snap. “Stop shit-talking Brandon. He didn’t do anything wrong and I’m sick of talking about it! Get over it, like I have. Are we clear?”

Kaija dips her lower lip out and stares hard at me for a second. “Fine. You gonna find out who that guy was?”

“How and why would I do that?” I leave the elevator ahead of her. “And where do you want to go for dinner?”

“There are only two tenants in this building. You and the agency. Clearly, he wasn’t at Bold, so Riza probably knows him.”

“I’m not going to ask Riza who a random man is just because you want me to get laid.”

“Oh, and you don’t want that man to lay you any way he wants to? Please. The Mickey I knew would’ve had him in that elevator, damned if I was there or not.”

“Well, I’m not that Mickey, so move on,” I say quietly and move to my car and click the fob. “You’re banned from talking about any men for the rest of the night.”

“Even mine? Cause he’s pretty damn wonderful.” She sighs, and I roll my eyes and slide into my driver’s side as she hops in on the other.

“I liked it so much better when you and Keyra were single.”

* * *

“Mickey? You home?”

My eyes fly open and I sit up in my bath, dislodging the cucumber slices from my eyelids and just barely catching them before they hit the water.

“Mom?” I call out. “I’m in the tub.”

The door opens and my mom pokes her blonde head around the door, smiling. “Hey, sweetheart.”

“Since when do you pop in without warning?”I sink my head back onto the bath cushion.

“Since my daughter hasn’t come to see me in weeks.” She sits on the closed toilet and points a finger at me. “You’re avoiding me.”

“It’s been like 9 days,” I mutter.

“And you didn’t even stay long that time. You’re avoiding me and I want to know why.” She pushes.

“This is my relaxation time. Do you see these cucumbers? These bubbles? Hear the low music?”

“I do. So, what’s up with you?” I assume she’s kicked her shoes off because I hear a thud on my tiles.

“Nothing. Everything’s going well.”

“You ever going to tell me what happened with Brandon?”

“Why does everyone want to talk about Brandon today? Does it matter to any of you that I don’t want to talk about him?” I sit up because obviously, my relaxing is over.

God, I wish I still had weed. A little bit always went a long way since I was careful never to build up a huge tolerance. Sometimes, you just need the edge off without any extra effort.

“We’re just worried about you. Things seemed to end so abruptly.”

“It ended right on time.” I stand and pull a towel from the rack, ready to strangle my family.

Unfortunately, new Mickey doesn’t want any additions to her criminal offenses.

“Bold is doing a collaboration shoot with Klein this month. I think we might be able to talk them into doing a limited edition line for us and vice versa.”

“That’d be huge.” She follows me from the bathroom and sits on the bed as I walk into my closet. “Who put that into motion?”

I hesitate, and she jumps on it like a shark smelling blood in the water.

“Michaela?” She prods. “Is there something else you’re not telling me?”

“One of the new board members had some contacts they tapped, and here we are.”

“And?”

I put on my robe and throw my towel into the hamper, going back into my bedroom. “And what?”

“Who is he? Have I met him?”

“Did I say he was a man?”

“You just said he.” Her voice gets singsongy at the end, and I resign myself to the fact that if I don’t give her something, she won’t stop.

I switch my robe for a nightgown and take the clip out of my hair, raking it with my fingers to get the small tangles out.

Finally, I turn to my mother, who looks like she’s holding her breath to see what I’m going to say.

“He’s a man, he’s interested in me and no, we’re not together. Anything else?”

“Is he unattractive?” She lays down and props her head up on my bed.

“No.”

“Lazy? Undisciplined?”

“No.”

“Racist?”

“No, Ma.” I frown at her. “He’s none of those things.”

“Well then color me confused, because you just said you’re not together.”

“Would you like me to get you two in the same room so you can sign me over for 50 cows?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, you’re worth at least 100.” Her mouth twitches.

I shake my head and pick up my brush from my vanity, sitting down in front of it. I start brushing my hair and decide to just ignore her.

I see her come up behind me in the mirror, and she puts her hand out for the brush.

“What’s really going on with you sweetheart?” I pass her the brush but keep my silence, and she begins to pull it through my hair gently.

“Well if you aren’t going to talk, then I want you to listen.” She starts.

“Maybe I’ll talk after all.”

“Too late. It’s my turn.” She continues her slow brushing, and I close my eyes, leaning back into her a little. Might as well get comfortable.

“I’ve watched you become more reserved these past few months. Now, I don’t know why and I can’t read minds. But I want to say that no matter what version of yourself you are, or who you become, I am incredibly proud of you.”

I hear her swallow but I don’t want to open my eyes and look at her face in the mirror.

“I’ve always admired your spirit, your fearlessness that was sometimes admittedly very nerve-wracking for a mother to see.” She laughs a little. “But it also made me very happy, because I knew that if nothing else, you would live life the way it’s meant to be lived. So, whatever it is that you won’t share with us right now…I want you to know that you are exceptional. Watching you become so strong and always willing to be yourself makes me feel like maybe I didn’t mess up this parenting thing too badly.” Her voice hitches and I can’t help but open my eyes now, and I see her wipe away a tear quickly.

Goddammit.

I turn and hug her waist, hiding my face in her abdomen. She runs her hands over my hair the way she used to on the rare occasions that I’d let her baby me.

“Why are you so damn sappy?” I croak, but there’s obvious emotion in my voice and she laughs.

“I’m sappy enough for the both of us, huh?”

I pull back and blink at the ceiling hard, standing and moving away with a deep exhale.

“I don’t know if I’m ready to date again right now. I…there are some things I’m working through for myself.” I confess. “But if I were…it would be him. He’s…something different for me.”

She sits on the bed and scoots back to my headboard, patting the spot next to her.

“Come sit, tell me all about him.”

I move to the bed and curl up beside her, and we talk for what seems like forever, until my phone rings and I snag it from my bedside table.

It’s Riza.

“Riza, what’s up?”

“I know who your model will be shooting with for the Klein spread.” She squeals, she’s so excited.

“Really? Who?”

“I’m sending a picture right now. You’re going to love him, even though he’s a little bit rough around the edges.”

I put her on speaker and pull my phone back, waiting for the picture to come through. When it loads, I barely stop my jaw from dropping.

My mom leans on my shoulder and whistles, “Is that him? What kind of daughter of mine are you? He’s even more attractive than you’ve described him.”

“This isn’t Hawk.” I murmur, taking in the man’s deep blue eyes and familiar mischievous smirk.

“Oh.” Her voice is disappointed. “Well…”

“I met him today Riza.” I hold the phone closer to my mouth. “He was in your offices wasn’t he?”

“Damn, I didn’t expect that. That’s a coincidence. He called me from the lobby saying he wanted the shoot, actually. Before that, he was adamant that he doesn’t do anything like this anymore.”

“Anymore?”

“I forget you’re completely not linked into sports.”

“I’m just barely into hockey now and that’s just family connections.” I yawn. It’s later than I thought.

“Well, that is Liam Daniels, former bowl winning QB and current SEC analyst. He’s only in New York for a little bit, so you’re lucky. Women love him. And when they see him then see your lingerie, they’ll love you both.”

“Riza, when did you say he accepted the offer?” My mom asks.

“Sina? I didn’t know you were there, how are you?” Riza loves my mom. I think she might love her a little more than me, actually.

“I’ll be doing even better when one of these daughters of mine gives me a wedding to plan.”

“Good luck.” Riza laughs. “But oh…uh, he called me when he was leaving our building.”

“And when did you meet him, Mickey?”

I roll my eyes, answering reluctantly. “In the elevator.”

Like I knew they would, her eyes light up with all the possibilities she’s imagining.

“So he changed his mind on something he was adamant about all because he met you?”

“You make it sound like he’s just offered me a ring already.” My eyelids feel like bags of sand.

I’m going to kick my mom and her mom-of-the-bride dreams out soon.

“I hate to break your bubble, but Liam’s not really the marrying type right now, Mrs. B. He’s also working on some personal things.”

“So is Mickey! They can work through them together.”

“Riza, I’m putting my mom out of my house now. Thank you for the call.”

“You’re welcome.” She laughs. “Later. Have a good night, Mrs. B!”

I click off before my mom can respond and nudge her towards the side of the bed.

“Time for you to leave me to my spinsterhood.”

“If you deprive me of this, I swear I’ll come back and haunt you.” She pokes me in the stomach as she gets up, and I scowl. “In all seriousness…don’t try to change yourself so much that you miss out on the people who want you regardless, okay?”

“Yes, mother.” I deadpan. “I love you, and lock the door on your way out, thank you.”

“Love you too, you ingrate.” She huffs and pats the cover as I curl up under it. “Don’t forget, Jasmine’s final track meet is Saturday after next at 1.”

“I’ll be there.” I close my eyes and eventually hear the front door close.

Except I can’t sleep, because now I’m wondering what exactly Liam Daniels plan of attack is.

And if I can resist him when he launches it.

I’ve already got one man I’m trying to keep at bay, I really don’t need two.