Page 55 of Perfect Enough
He rolled his eyes. “I could see it.”
“Fine,” I said as I dropped my hands to my sides. “I get hangry if I wait too long to eat.”
“Good to know.” He let his eyes roam over my body, then asked, “Do you have plans for later tonight?”
“Not at all.”
A brilliant smile lit up his face. “Then we canplanfor dinner. You know, to keep you from getting hangry.”
“What about lunch?”
Josh leaned forward and winked. “I’ve already gotten that taken care of.”
I raised a brow. “Really? My stomach thanks you in advance.” Grabbing a lid for the plasticware, I put it on the fruit and then returned the rest of it to the fridge. “Ready?”
He motioned for me to lead the way. “I’m ready.”
I grabbed my cell and the small wallet where I’d put my license, debit card, and some cash, and started for the front door.
Before I had a chance to open it, someone knocked.
Josh and I both looked at each other. “It’s one of two people, and I’m pretty sure Chloe wouldn’t be here,” I said as I drew a deep breath.
Opening the door, I forced myself to smile when I saw my mother on the other side. She glanced at me, then broke into a wide grin at the sight of Josh.
“Josh! How wonderful to see you.”
“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Mrs. Montgomery.”
She waved him off. “Please, call me Gloria.”
Josh simply widened his smile.
“Where are you kids off to?” she asked, giving me a look.
I could practically feel Josh smiling from behind me. “We were just heading back to Hamilton. Josh and I are going horseback riding.”
I was wrong if I thought my mother was already happy when she spotted Josh two minutes ago. Now she broke into a grin so wide, I worried she might strain her cheeks.
“Sophialovesto ride horses!” she enthused to Josh. “Don’t you, dear?”
“I do. Um, Mom, was there anything you needed?”
“Of course not,” she replied, as if I’d asked the stupidest thing ever.
“You stopped by just to say hi?”
Her cheeks turned a slight tinge of pink. “I was on my way to the studio and just wanted to see how you were feeling, but clearly, you’re back to your old self.”
“Yes,” I said with a forced smile as I wondered how she even knew I was home. “You don’t mind if I don’t ask you in then, since we were just leaving.”
She quickly stepped back. “No! Of course not! You two kids go and have a wonderful time. I’ll chat with you later, Sophia?”
As I walked past her, I replied, “I’m sure we will.”
We walked to the steps, since my apartment was on the second floor, and my mother couldn’t resist the urge to start peppering Josh with questions.
“How do you like being a firefighter, Josh?”