I hummed to myself as I moved through my mom’s kitchen. It was still early, though, since school had been closed down for the day due to a gas leak, I had plenty of time to waste.

But I had a plan. I’d put it into action the moment it occurred to me after I woke up the same time I usually did on weekdays, before I realized I was free the whole day.

I was putting together breakfast, so I could surprise Ross with it. More than that. I smiled to myself as I thought of the expression he’d have on his face when he saw the sexy number I’d put on, just for him. It had been a while since we’d had any alone time. Sophia was supposed to be sleeping over at her grandmother’s until later today, so, as long as I went early, I could catch him alone for a few hours.

“Hmm,” my mom’s voice came from behind me. “Something smells good in this kitchen.”

I glanced over my shoulder at my mom. “Glad you like it. Though I hope it will taste as good as it smells,” I said with a shrug.

I grabbed a rag to wipe down my hands and moved closer to Mom to give her a quick morning hug and a peck on the cheek.

“Do you have any requests? I’m sure I could whip something up for you quickly. I won’t be heading to school today, so I don’t mind.”

But she just waved me off. “That’s not important. Better yet, if you’ve got your whole day free, why not come to the diner and help me out for the day? I could use the company.”

I snorted. “Who do you think you’re trying to kid, Mom? I know all your employees, and they all adore you. You’re not exactly lacking in company.”

She hummed. “You can just say no, honey,” she said, an edge of teasing to her voice. “You can tell me that you’re planning something for your boyfriend. Because I see you cooking breakfast, but I also see you packing it away like you don’t intend to eat at home.”

I paused for a moment, before resuming my task, though in a slower manner. I couldn’t exactly pretend that wasn’t the case. She was fully aware of the relationship I had with Ross. Hell, I was still pretty sure she knew we’d had sex in my room that one time. She’d hinted at it plenty of times, but I'd ignored her as I'd done so many times before.

“I have plans,” I admitted, since there was no point in hiding it, anyway. “I wanted to take this to Ross so we could eat it together.”

She hummed again. “And isn’t his daughter out of the house? I heard from Cecilia yesterday that she would be taking the little darling home with her for a night.”

I froze for a moment, before forcing myself to go on. She could probably guess what I had planned. My mom never got to give me the sex talk, and I was too old to listen to it now. I breathed a silent sigh of relief, because I was pretty close to finishing up, either way.

“I’ll just be visiting him for a little while, Mom. I might not have work, but he still does, remember?”

I said that to remind both of us. While I knew he would put off work if I asked him to, I couldn’t do that. It wouldn’t be fair—not that I would refuse if he offered, though. It was why I was still early, so I could get there while there was still time for some quick fun.

“Well, that is true.”

I finished packing up the food in some containers. I already had put coffee in a thermos, and I packed everything else into a straw bag.

“I’ll see you later, Mom,” I said as I went to give her a quick hug and a kiss.

She surprised me, holding on longer than I expected. But I smiled and hugged her back just as tightly. When she let me pull away, she patted my shoulder and gave me a look of pure affection.

“It’s nice to see you happy, finally,” she said and returned my peck on the cheek.

“Thanks, Mom,” I said softly.

I picked up the bag and rushed outside with it.

Ross lived a good distance away from my house. If it weren’t for my car, I probably wouldn’t have made it until he had to go in to work. I got inside and placed the basket on the seat beside me. I did a quick check of my face in the rearview mirror. I’d tried a little with the makeup today, still keeping it subtle, as was my style, but bringing out my eyes a little bit because Ross seemed to like them.

Though, if he were to be believed, there was a lot about me to like. I’d gotten more compliments from him than I had from all the other guys I’d dated put together.

I started the car and drove towards Ross’s place. I realized this was probably my first time heading there in my car. Usually, I walked, or Ross picked me up. Had he ever even seen me driving the car he fixed for me? I found myself grinning as I realized that was one extra thing I needed to thank him for.

It didn’t take long for me to see his place come into view. If I hadn't been so eager to see him that I was keeping a lookout, though, I might have gotten even closer to see what was happening. I frowned the moment I realized Ross was standing outside on his front porch, and he wasn’t alone. He was in a muscle shirt and jeans, and the woman with him was in a dark tank top, jeans shorts, and boots.

Who the fuck was she?

I slowed down the car and crawled to a stop some distance from the house. It was close enough that, had he looked up, Ross might have noticed my car and known I was there. He had fixed it, after all, and done a full paint job.

Only, he didn’t look up, not once. I was about to get out of the car and stomp up there to ask what the hell was going on, when I saw the woman flip her hair, then place her hand on Ross’s chest, right below his neck. She even leaned closer, practically pressing her ample chest into him.

Ross just stood there and let her. He didn’t try to touch her back, but he wasn’t exactly discouraging her, either.

No fucking way.

“You can't fucking do this to me, Ross,” I whispered under my breath. “Not fucking now.”

Of course, he didn’t hear me. The woman threw her head back in a laugh, and I got a bit of a look at her face. I was pretty sure I didn’t know who she was. She might have been someone else we’d known in high school, one of the ones that left town, because I hadn't seen her in the months I’d been back.

I hadn't seen any woman around Ross, period.

But maybe I was wrong? Nothing had changed since high school.

I laughed, and it came out a little broken. He could have been messing with me the entire time. Fucking me and making me think that it meant something. It was like he’d upped the prank he’d played with me in high school, and the thought didn’t sit well with me. Why the fuck had I fallen so easily for it again?

Because, otherwise, he wouldn’t be there, fucking flirting with some other woman when we were supposed to be in a relationship. I felt so angry. But more than anything, I felt broken.

Neither of them looked up when I swerved the car around and drove off, Ross’s eyes solely for the woman in front of him. I tightened my hands on the wheel and tried hard not to cry.