: Chapter 31

“Amelia, honey?” Mom says as soon as I answer my phone. She sounds different than usual—more excited, more like her old self.

“Hey, Mom! I was just on my way over. I’m in Mr. Aziz’s place. Do you need anything?”

“No, I’m fine. Look, there’s a man here who says he knows you.”

I place the ice cream I was inspecting back in the freezer and give her my full attention. Mom has lived in New York all her life, but I still wouldn’t call her streetwise. She’s always been quick to see the good in people, and I usually think that’s an admirable quality, but maybe not where strange men are concerned.

I quickly pay for my goods, give Mr. Aziz a little wave as I leave, and start to power-walk the five blocks to my childhood home. “What’s his name, Mom? And you haven’t let him in the house, have you? Look, I’ll be there soon. Is the slugger still in the hallway?” Two women living alone need to take a few precautions, and we’ve always kept a baseball bat by the door.

“Amelia, sweetheart, stop worrying. Constantine is a perfectly lovely man. He’s been showing me photos of his baby girl.”

I stop in my tracks, flooded first with relief, but then confusion hits. What the hell is Drake’s driver doing at my mom’s house?

It’s been almost a week since we finally worked out that we wanted to be together, and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. Sure, the secrecy thing is a drag, and our living arrangements leave a lot to be desired, but I’m not complaining. The man drives me crazy in bed, and added to that, he’s great company. I know it’s early days, but every time I think of him, I get this goofy grin that I can’t quite wipe off my face.

“Right. Okay, well, I do know Constantine. Can you put him on for a moment?”

“Hi, Miss Ryder.” His familiar deep voice sounds amused. Constantine is one of the few people who knows the truth about me and Drake, and I can’t help but think it must be like watching a soap opera for him.

“Back at ya, Constantine. You mind telling me what you’re doing in Brooklyn? Specifically at my mom’s house, at night?”

“Uh, I could tell you, Miss Ryder, but then I’d have to kill you.”

“Ha ha,” I say, deadpan. “Spill.”

“It’s a surprise. Organized by our lord and master himself.”

I have to laugh at that. He’s a funny guy, Constantine. I sigh and tell him I’ll be there soon. He gives the impression of being super laid-back, but he’s a tough cookie. He won’t crack over the phone.

When I arrive at Mom’s, Drake’s SUV is taking up most of the street and net curtains are twitching in every window. A few neighborhood kids stand a couple feet away, staring at it in amazement. Seeing a car like that in a place like this is pretty much akin to a spaceship landing and little green men walking down a gangplank.

“Moving up in the world, Amelia?” shouts Mrs. Katzberg from across the way. She’s sitting out on her porch, doing a crossword puzzle and smoking a cigarette, which has been her nighttime routine for as long as I’ve known her.

“Doing my best, Mrs. K, doing my best.”

The scene inside is hilarious. Constantine is a big man, and he overwhelms the small living space. My mom is next to him on the couch, wearing a dress I’ve never seen before. It’s her kind of style but looks expensive, in a pretty shade of deep green that brings out the forest tones in her eyes. She’s brushed her hair out into a big nimbus and is even wearing a flash of red lipstick. She used to love a red lip, but I haven’t seen her like this in years.

“Amelia!” She jumps up and skips toward me. Her breathing pays the price, but she stands still and recovers quickly, her eyes sparkling from excitement. “We’re going to the movies.”

“What?” I look to Constantine for answers, and when none are forthcoming, I return my attention to her. “But I thought you didn’t want to go to the movies anymore. You said you didn’t feel comfortable being around all those people.”

“I know, but tonight there won’t be any other people. Constantine here tells me you’ve won some kind of prize at work, baby. Employee of the month? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Uh, because it’s a totally made-up thing? But she looks so happy that I can’t possibly burst her bubble. I haven’t seen her this excited in a long time, and it makes my heart sing.

“Thank you so much for choosing this as your reward, sweetie. I can’t believe your Mr. James booked out the entire theater just for us. And he’s screening Witness—you know that one where Harrison Ford is a detective and he has to hide out with an Amish family? You remember? The one with the really hot dance scene to that Sam Cooke song?”

“I remember, Mom,” I say, smiling at how animated she is. “This is great. I’ll just go and freshen up, if I have time?” I look to Constantine for an answer.

“Certainly, Miss Ryder. The show won’t be starting without its guests of honor. The employee of the month is a big deal.”

I shoot him a look and head upstairs. As soon as I’m alone, I dial Drake’s number. “What the heck is going on? Since when am I employee of the month?”

“Mi rosa, you’re employee of the month every month. That blowjob you gave me this morning at my desk? Sensational.”

My body heats at the memory. I loved the feel of his huge cock in my mouth, teasing him with my tongue, making him groan, torturing him the same way he tortures me. And the delicious salty taste of him when he came …

“Amelia, are you still there?”

“Uh, yes. But I’m still confused.”

I hear noise in the background, the sound of a baby crying. “Is Luke still teething?” I ask. It’s weird that we know so much about each other’s families without being directly involved in them.

“He is, and it’s turned him into a grouchy little F.U.C.K.”

“I don’t think you need to worry about him copying your words at his age, Drake.”

“You never know. He’s a bright kid. Anyway, I know her birthday is coming up, and I wanted to do something nice for your mom and, by extension, something nice for you. You’ve been worried about her, and I just thought this might be, you know, nice.” He pauses, and I picture him sitting there with the baby on his lap. I always wanted kids with Chad, but every time I raised the subject, he said we weren’t ready. That we’d do it next year. Next year never came, and I have no idea now if I’ll ever be a mom. I’d love to meet Luke some time, though.

“I can’t believe how many times I said the word ‘nice’ in that sentence,” Drake says. “Between this baby and you, my brain is getting turned to mush.”

“Aaah, that’s nice,” I say, giggling. “And thank you. Did you send the dress for her as well?”

“I did. I’ve seen pictures of her, so I knew what she liked. I told her it was all part of the prize package you chose.”

“Wait, you spoke to my mom?” I ask, frowning. I mean, it’s not exactly breaking the rules, but it’s not something I expected either.

“Just briefly, on the phone. Don’t worry, I didn’t mention that I was also fucking your brains out every day.”

I suppress another giggle. “Well, that’s something. Will you be able to come to the movies with us?”

“Much as I’d like to sit in the back row and get up close and personal with you, Miss Ryder, I’m babysitting tonight. Constantine is at your service for the whole evening, though, and I’ve arranged for concessions to be open and free of charge, so go crazy with the popcorn. They also have two other Harrison Ford movies on hand if she’s enjoying herself.”

“Which ones?” I ask, curious.

“Working Girl and Cowboys & Aliens.”

“Ooh, that’s the one with Daniel Craig in it too!”

“Don’t sound so excited, Miss Ryder, or I might get jealous.” I think he’s joking, but I’m not really sure. For all I know, he might threaten to break Daniel Craig’s fingers and banish him to the Chicago office.

Mom’s calling my name from downstairs, so I don’t have time to find out. “Thank you again. This was incredibly thoughtful of you. I really do, um, like you, you know?”

Shit. That was close. I almost dropped an accidental “I love you” into the conversation. And neither of us are ready for that hand grenade to be tossed into our relationship just yet.