Page 71 of Her Filthy Grump
I swallow hard and embrace my mom, inhaling the scent of cinnamon and vanilla. “What’re you baking?”
“Banana bread and a cake for a lady’s group.” She tilts her head and studies me as my dad settles back into his recliner.
“Sounds delicious.”
“You want some banana bread?”
“Absolutely.” I rub my hands together and rush into the kitchen.
“Warmed up with butter?”
“Of course.” The kitchen is tidy, but stacks of papers cover one end of the cabinet beside her rolltop desk. She uses it as a combo office and kitchen. If you don’t see my mom, this is where she’s hiding out.
“Tell me what’s been going on with you.” She busies herself, getting my food together as I sit down in a wooden seat at the table.
After graduation, my mom updated to stainless steel appliances, so there’s been some modernizations done in here. The scent of bananas fills the space as the plate of bread rotates inside the microwave.
“Work’s going great. I haven’t been late in weeks.” I frown. “More like three weeks.” Or is it four? Time flies when you’re having fun. Or when you’re on your back getting serviced.
“That’s wonderful, dear. I’m proud of you.” She yanks open the microwave door with a snap. “Not that I wasn’t proud of you before. That came out wrong.”
“Stop.” I wave a hand at her dismissively. “I was flighty. I get that now. It’s time for me to be a responsible adult. Just because I was off helping someone else doesn’t give me an excuse to shirk my duties.”
“Wow.” My mom jerks her head around and stares with wide eyes. “What brings on this newfound maturity?”
“Well….” I pause as she sits the plate down, slathers butter onto a knife, and hands it to me. “I’ve been seeing the man dad was asking about. His name is Kameron.”
She smiles and pulls out a seat across from me. “Tell me all about him.”
“He’s….” I drift off as I coat the bread with a heaping pile of butter.Delicious.I moan deep in my throat. “He’s complicated. He’s only here for a few months, so I’m not sure what the future holds.”
My heart skips a beat as thoughts of Kameron leaving town drift through my brain. Do I go with him? This is my home. My hometown. I’ve never considered leaving for good. My gut churns, and suddenly, I’m no longer hungry.
“I see.” Her face is filled with concern.
“Yeah.” I drop the bread to the white plate. “I love him, but I don’t know if we’ll be together long-term.”
“I’m sorry.” She grabs my hand and pats it. “How long have you been together?”
“Several weeks, so it’s still early.” My gaze drifts to the living room where my dad’s laughing at something on the television. “How did you know?”
She follows my gaze. “Know what? That your dad was the one for me?”
“Yes.”
“The instant I met him, but it took a good year for him to be on board. Men fight relationships so hard for fear of being hurt.”
“Bullshit.” My dad’s booming voice drifts in from the living room.
My mom purses her lips and rolls her eyes. “He’s the one who’s full of it. Men are babies when it comes to their hearts. Give him time.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I nod. She’s right. Kameron has made a complete one hundred and eighty degrees turn since I met him. He smiles and laughs now. He likes having a good time, and not only when we’re in bed.
The key is not to push him. We have six weeks left. My stomach churns, and nausea rolls up my throat.
Six weeks? Oh, hell.
Chapter Forty-Six