Saturday afternoon, after picking out a present for Simon’s party the following day, Becca sat with her son at lunch in his favorite burger place. They rarely spent quality time together anymore, what with her working nonstop and him being too busy to hang out with his mom.

Though she liked his extracurricular activities, she missed spending time with him. Thus, a day to go shopping and share a meal together.

“Are you nervous about next week?” she asked.

“It’s a big game. If we win that one, we’ll have a shot at being state champs.” He shrugged. “I just wish we didn’t have to drive to Corvallis to play. I like being on our home turf.”

“I know.” She didn’t relish the nearly three hour drive. With any luck, the snow would hold off. “You’ll do great, I’m sure.”

“Flash and Coach Deacon think we will.” He shot her an innocent smile she didn’t trust. “He’s not so bad, is he, Mom?”

“Coach Deacon?”

“You know who I’m talking about.”

“Yes, yes. Flash is nice, I guess. He sure had a nice house.”

“I know.” Simon delved into the plate of hamburger and fries the waitress dropped off, while Becca toyed with her chicken sandwich. Thinking about Mitch dampened her appetite.

“I like watching him and Coach Deacon argue. They’re funny.” Simon laughed, his mouth full.

She grimaced but decided not to criticize him. “Do you wish you had a brother?”

“Sometimes. Then I hear Jenna complaining about her sisters, or some of the guys talking about their brothers, and I think it’s okay to be an only child.” He ate five fries at once. “Although, when I think about it,” came out muffled, along with bits of French fry.

“Simon.”

He swallowed. “You know, upon further reflection, I’m probably eating to compensate for my grief and inadequacy.”

“Or because you’re a growing teenager who’s always hungry.”

He gave her a stern look, and she regretted letting him accompany Nora to a psychology lecture last month. “Underneath my fun-loving ways, I might actually be lonely. No one to fight with but Aunt Nora. And she’s no fun, always acting like we’re not the same because she’s a grownup. I mean, Mom, how will I function as an adult when I have no idea how to share with others?”

She just stared at him.

He continued, “And let’s face it. You’re not getting any younger. If you did want to have another kid, now would probably be a good time. When women get over the age of thirty-three, the chances for problematic pregnancies go way up.”

“First of all, it’s thirty-five. And secondly, I’m not sure where you’re going with this. You want me to get married again?” Just saying that made her feel fluttery inside, because only one man came to mind with the M-word.

How the heck could Becca think of Mitch and permanence in the same breath? She barely knew the man. So what that they had some off-the-charts chemistry? Or that he’d woken her from what felt like a deep, social sleep? Becca had loved and lost, and despite the years since, she had no urge to open herself up like that again. Going to a movie or having dinner together, having sex, that was one thing. Waking up next to the same man day after day? Sharing her life—her son—with him?

“Mom?” Simon frowned. “You okay? I was just teasing.”

“Well, you know, since I’m so old and everything, I got confused. Do you want me to marry Mitch or Deacon?” She couldn’t help thinking of Mitch as Mitch. Flash was a persona, not the real man.

“Well, Mitch has a sweet pool.” Trust Simon to catch her slip. “I don’t know about Deacon’s, but if his is nicer, go team Deacon.” Simon started laughing.

She let out a relieved breath, glad to know her son wasn’t serious about any of it. “I miss this.”

“What?”

“Me and my little boy out for lunch.”

“Little? Mom, I’m six-two and weigh more than you do. I think.”

“Ha-ha. And no, I’m still not telling you how much I weigh. It’s none of your business. But Simon, it doesn’t matter how big you get or how old you are. You’ll always be my little boy.”

He blushed. “Aw, Mom. Don’t get mushy.”

She found herself having to blink away tears, knowing that despite her losses, she’d been blessed to have such a wonderful son. Not wanting to bring down the festive mood, she turned the subject to Simon.

After reaffirming that his grades would once again be straight As this semester, and that he hadn’t skipped any classes since his warning a few weeks ago, she mentioned a subject she’d been trying to discuss with him without seeming as if she wanted answers.

“How’s Jenna doing?”

He immediately went on guard. “Why do you ask?”

She nibbled on a few fries, keeping the conversation casual. “I saw her at the game but didn’t get a chance to talk to her. She looks so much older now.”

He shrugged. “She’s fine. We still talk and hang out.”

“Good. You two have always been best friends.” She paused, trying not to smile at how hard he tried to act like Jenna meant nothing more than a good friend to him. Mitch had been right about her boy and Jenna. Imagine that. “How come you never mentioned wanting to date her?”

Simon whipped his head up. “Mom. It’s just Jenna. Besides, I don’t want to date anyone yet. I’m too young.”

“I agree on that one hundred percent. There’s no rush. But if you did want to date someone, I’d say you should ask Jenna.”

He snorted. “No way.”

“Why not?”

“We’re friends.”

“I was friends with your dad.”

“That’s different.”

“How?”

“It just is.”

Fascinated by her confident son turning red, she watched in bemusement as he came up with excuse after excuse as to why he could never date Jenna.

When he finally wound down, she asked him, “Simon, do you like Jenna? As maybe more than a friend?”

He glared. “No, Mom. Geez. Didn’t you hear anything I said?”

A yes, then. Oh man, my little boy is growing up. “Well, it’s your business. But if I could give you some advice… Life is short. Waiting for the right time or the person you think you should want to be with isn’t always the answer. Jenna is a great girl, and I’m glad you’re friends. But maybe, just maybe, you might like each other in a special way.”

“Not Jenna,” he said, sounding bitter. “She’s into some jerk who doesn’t know she’s alive. Can we stop talking about this now? Why don’t we talk about Mitch instead?”

Should have stopped while I was ahead. “Sure. What’s up?”

Simon blinked. “Ah, well, so, do you like him?”

“He’s been good to you. Yes, I like him.”

“But do you like like him? You’re all about me hooking up with Jenna.”

“I didn’t say anything about you hooking up.” She started, not having considered her son being physically intimate at his age. Yet why should she think Simon would be different than ninety-nine percent of the hormonally driven boys at his school?

“Not like that.” He sounded disgusted. Thank God. “I mean, you and Flash. You like each other. I can tell. Why not ask him out on a date?”

She laughed, hoping she masked her confusion about the man. “Simon, I love you, but the day I take dating advice from you is the day I cut off all my hair. Not gonna happen. I’m happy being your mom, running the shop, hanging with my friends. And yes, I do have other friends besides Nora. At some point, I’ll probably start dating again. But not today.”

“Why not?”

She waved down the waiter. “Because we have a movie to see in half an hour, and I have better things to do with my time then moon over some man when we’ve got a new superhero movie to drool over.” I’m not mooning over you, Becca, Mitch had said. “Now if you still want me to date, I’ll date Thor for you. How’s that for a new daddy?”

He grinned. “Well, okay. But you do realize he’s a god? That would make me a demigod by marriage. I can handle that.”

“Of course you can.” She paid their bill, then walked out of the restaurant with her son, who wasn’t so little anymore.

 

******

 

Sunday afternoon, Becca sat with Mitch at his kitchen island, holding two cards.

“You know, when you said we’d play some games together, I hadn’t thought you meant actual games. Like Uno.” She had expected they’d head right for the bedroom. After the previous day’s discussion with Simon, she wanted nothing more than some uncomplicated sex with a handsome man to take her mind off her new relationship troubles.

Mitch grinned, and that look reminded her of Simon for some reason. “What’s wrong, Becca? Can’t wait to have this fine body?” He laid down three cards in succession and went out, winning the game. “Ah, the taste of victory is sweet.”

“I think you meant the taste of your beer is sweet.”

“Not sweet, but it’s good. Want another?”

She sat nursing her first, one of his brother’s special holiday brews. “Deacon’s brewery made this, huh? It’s good.”

“Yeah. Who knew he had such talent?” Mitch smiled, but she sensed something else behind the expression.

“What about you?”

He took a large sip then gathered the cards. “Me?”

“What’s your talent? Besides catching a ball for millions.”

“Technically, it was catching and scoring, but since you’re a novice, I’ll let it go.”

“Thanks so much.”

He winked. Said nothing.

She sighed. “So pretty, but not much between your ears, huh?” She ignored his laughter. “What are you going to do now that football’s over? Will you stay in Hope’s Turn?” The thought of him leaving hurt, so she refused to consider it. Instead, she wondered what he did all day when not helping coach the football team. Did he ski? Busy himself with his new home? Think about the good old days when he rolled in fame and the ladies?

The thought of Mitch being sought-after bothered her. Becca didn’t have much going for her, really. She wasn’t a model, actress, or mega successful businesswoman. She had a great life, but a teenager and bills to pay couldn’t be any man’s idea of the perfect woman.

“Why are you with me?” she asked when he continued to sit in silence, staring at her.

“Huh?”

“Of all the women after you, why me? I mean, not that I was after you. But you get what I’m saying.”

He finished his beer then set it aside. “Why not you?”

“You know, you’re not answering any of my questions today.” Mitch seemed to be in an odd mood. Kind of broody, which only added to his sex appeal. She wished she could tune out the sensual aspect of the man, but it was a part of him, and just breathing, he attracted her. But his smiles…they slayed her.

“How about you answer some of my questions instead?” he asked.

“Fine. Fire away.”

“What do you do when you’re not at the tea shop or coming over here to have sex with me? Is this thing between us just casual, or is it something more? And what do you want from me?”

“That’s a lot of questions.”

He frowned. “I have nothing else to do but think them up.”

She hadn’t been mistaken. He sounded unlike himself, down. “Um, well, I work hard at the tea shop. I love it, but make no mistake, it’s time consuming. And it’s just me and Simon. Well, me, Simon, Nora, and my aunt and uncle. I love my family.”

“I can see that. Nora’s great.”

She smiled. “Yes. She is. She’s always been there for me, more like a sister than a cousin.”

“What about your parents?”

She realized she was doing all the talking, but since it seemed to lighten the mood, she didn’t mind. “My mom passed away from cancer when I was little. My dad remarried someone I can’t stand, and they now live in Seattle. We’re not very close, unfortunately. I didn’t do what Dad expected, so after high school, he and his new wife kind of faded away.”

“Really?”

She snorted. “You say that is as if you can’t believe it. Trust me, it’s true. When I chose to marry Neal over going to college, my dad cut me off. He and Miranda have never met Simon, and I don’t care if they ever do.” The hurt was there, buried deep, but Becca had made an uneasy peace with the state of her family years ago. “But I’m close to Aunt Sue and Uncle Luke, Nora’s parents. Her mom and mine were sisters, and they loved each other. When Mom died, it hurt Aunt Sue a lot.”

“Huh.” Mitch stared at her, as if seeing something new. “My family’s pretty tight. My folks live in Washington, but Deacon moved here, so I moved to be closer to him. Plus, my parents are at the age where they’re traveling a lot, making up for opportunities they didn’t have when we were younger.”

“That’s nice.”

“It is.” He nodded.

“And about the rest of what you asked me. I actually do have a life beyond my work, Simon, and having sex with you.” That we haven’t had today. She should have grumbled about that but didn’t want him to think that was all she wanted. Was it?

“What’s that look?”

“You confuse me.”

“Ha. You confuse me.”

“How so?”

“Becca, you rocked my world. Then you took off. You seem to like being with me, but I can’t tell if you just want sex or something else, and I’m afraid if I ask you, I’ll scare you away.”

They both digested that.

“You do realize you just put it out there,” she had to say. “So if you were trying not to scare me away, you failed.”

He wiped a hand over his face. “Ah, yeah. I hadn’t meant to say it like that, but hell. I’m usually better when it comes to dealing with women.”

“You have a lot of experience, I take it.” Geez, Becca. Don’t mention it like that!

“Yeah, I do.” He frowned. “I know how to wine and dine a woman, how to take her to bed. But when I think we might get closer, I don’t know. I back off. I can tell it’s not genuine. And I refuse to be taken the same way Deacon was. You have no idea what Rhonda did to him. He gave her everything, and she stomped all over him.”

“That had to be rough.” She felt for him. “But you can’t think every woman out there just wants to use you. I don’t.”

“Oh? Then what is this?” He motioned between them. “The sex is great, but maybe we could have more than that.”

She swallowed. That “more” made her nervous. “Like what?”

He didn’t look any more comfortable with the discussion than she felt, which made the awkwardness mildly amusing. “Hell, Becca. I don’t know. It’s not like I’m wanting to wave your panties around, letting everyone know we’re doing each other. But do we keep hiding this, whatever this is between us? Can we go to dinner together? Catch a movie? Spend time together without having to sneak around?”

“I have Simon to think about.”

“I know that. I’m not saying you have to exclude him.” He cleared his throat. “I like the kid.”

“I love him, and I don’t want to do anything to hurt him. What if you and I start dating, and it goes bad? Everyone will know we’re seeing each other. The town isn’t that big, you know. He’ll hear about it at school. Then he’ll have to deal with your brother being his coach. And heck, even you being his coach if you stick around.” She paused. “Are you staying in Hope’s Turn?”

“I plan to.” He frowned. “This is moving way too fast.”

“You’re telling me.” For a moment, she’d imagined them as a real couple, doing things together, including Simon, their families. Weird.

“Look. All I’m saying is I like you. I think you like me. Why don’t we do things together in addition to sex? Because no way I’m saying I want to stop that.”

She admitted, “Neither do I.”   

“Good.” He blew out a breath. “I’m making a mess of it. I just wanted you to know I like spending time with you. And if you want that we keep it to ourselves for now, I guess that makes sense. I never realized what a pain in the ass it is to be well-known.”

“You had to know. You spent a bunch of years in the NFL.”

“Yeah, but in different cities. You can blend in better around millions of people. Hope’s Turn has what? Thirty thousand?”

“If that.”

He sighed. “Come here.”

She moved into his arms, needing the hug. Mitch was big and warm. Safe.

“Thanks. I needed that,” he murmured against her hair. The he kissed her temple and whispered, “Okay, we can have sex now.”

She let out a relieved laugh. “It’s about time.”

But later, as she drove home, Becca realized he had never answered her question. What did the man get up to when no one else was around?