Page 3 of His Determined Bear
“Coop, this is Aaron. Aaron, I’m sure you’re tired of hearing about him, and he is real. This is my son Cooper.”
I looked from my mother, then to the laptop, and back at her. The smile she was wearing was wide, and her eyes sparkled with joy.
“I have heard so much about you, Cooper. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” he chuckled, the sound deep and rumbly. I glanced at my mom, eyes wide, and whispered, “Who is he?”
Mom glanced at the computer screen, and her eyes lit up again before glancing back at me, “That’s what I— I mean, we wanted to tell you.”
“Tell me what?” I could feel the growing scowl on my face as my eyes went to the ma—Aaron. I had to admit, he had kind eyes that he couldn’t seem to take off my mom. He was a handsome silver fox with chiseled cheekbones under his neatly trimmed salt and pepper beard.
“Aaron and I have been dating for a while now.” My mom and Aaron shared a smile that I had to admit was filled with so much emotion that I felt like I was intruding. But dating, yeah, that wasn’t a big deal. Besides, it wasn’t like they’d actually met in person. This was just online.
I jumped when I felt my arm being pinched. I looked up at my mom and shook my head, “Sorry, what did you say, mom? I must have spaced out there for a minute.”
She glanced at the computer screen again, and he gave her an encouraging nod. I frowned. What the hell else could they possibly have to tell me? I’d met him, and I knew he was Mom's secret boyfriend. Shit, was he moving in? Was that it? Was that why mom was doing up the whole house again. Fuck! Maybe he’d convinced her to sell the house. He could be one of those scammers that preyed on unsuspecting single women.
I groaned! I really hoped not. I didn’t want to have to break that news to her.
I looked up again when I felt her sharp elbow nudge my upper arm. I glanced at my mom.
“Did you hear what I said?” She asked with a pensive look on her face.
I drew in a deep breath, “Sorry, I’m a little distracted, work and all,” I added for some reason, “what did you say again? Please repeat that?”
“Aaron and I… we… he….” She let out a breath to calm herself and held my eyes, “We’re getting married.”
I felt my mouth drop open like all the muscle control had left my body. All I could do was stare because I was certain I must have heard that wrong. There was no way on God’s green earth that my mom just said what I think she said. This was a dream. No, a nightmare. I had to be hallucinating this shit. I pinched myself on the inside of my arm and winced. Okay, so wide awake.
“What?” I was surprised my voice came out sounding normal at all.
“I asked your mother—” It was Aaron that spoke this time. My eyes moved to look at him even as I pressed my lips together to stop myself from screaming, ‘I wasn’t talking to you like a ten-year-old, “if she would do me the honor of spending her life with me.” His gaze left mine. His face broke into a grin at my mom, causing her whole face to light up and the furrow in her brow to disappear. “And she said yes,” he continued in the most love-sick way.
“I did,” my mom said, and the words were filled with such pride and happiness.
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out, which was crazy, seeing as my brain was screaming loudly. I felt like I was floating above my body and watching an accident happen. I was screaming, trying to warn everyone, but only they couldn’t hear me, or maybe no sound came out of my mouth.
The older man must have seen this because he started speaking again. “I know you probably have a million questions for me, and I will happily answer every last one of them, but I swear I’m a good guy, and I love your mother very much.” His voice was filled with emotion. But a voice in my head reminded me that emotion could be easily faked.
“Right, well, I need to talk to my mother.” I didn’t bother even waiting for him to reply; I simply reached over and slammed the laptop shut.
Mom gasped and hurried to open it back up immediately. She shot me a look that was filled with disappointment as she rushed to type in the password, but of course, the call had already been disconnected.
She was about to call him back, but I put a hand on her arm, stalling her, “Mom! Is all this for real? When did this happen? You’re not the type to say yes to a proposal from a man you barely know? He could be a con man or worse, a stalker or even a serial killer.”
Shit, did that mean that because I knew about him now, he would have to kill me? Dammit, Coop, you need to watch less Criminal Minds. I shook my head, dispelling that thought even while making a mental note to make sure that someone had all this man’s information in case mom and I suddenly disappeared.
I blew out a breath, “Internet dating is full of predators, mom. You barely know this person, and suddenly you want to marry him.” My eyes narrowed, “I bet he’s going to want you to put this house in his name soon. Or he’s even asked to borrow money.” My eyes narrowed, “Has he asked for any money? Because that’s how it starts, you know.”
My mom sighed and leaned back in her seat, facing me. “Coop.” She reached for my hand, and I could see a small smile on her lips which confused me; for some reason. I expected her to be… I don’t know, upset or something.
“First of all, you do know I’m the parent here, right?” Her voice was teasing. “Aaron and I have been seeing each other since January, and this is not a spur-of-the-moment decision.”
My head fell forward in confusion. It was October. “Ten months? You didn’t tell me for ten months. I thought we didn’t keep things from each other.”
She rubbed the back of her neck, having the grace to look sheepish. With a deep sigh, she continued, “We met on one of those Facebook groups where you exchange recipes. He’s a wonderful cook.”
“You know people lie on Facebook, right? He could really be on there looking for single lone—” My mom flinched, and my mouth snapped shut when I realized what I’d been about to say.
“I’m sorry, mom, I didn’t mean that the way it sounded… I just don’t want you to get hurt.”