I grinned and rolled my eyes. Ryland asked if she was a Tigers fan and my mother admitted she was by default because I was. She wasn’t a sports person. He then proceeded to tell her that she might as well become a Sharks fan because I was no longer a Tigers fan. He also offered her season tickets to the Sharks for next year, expressing how that was the very best place to watch a game and how it was even better than being in a box because you got to truly experience everything instead of being closed off.
“You’re not even a football fan.”
“If I get to watch him play, I might be.”
I glared.“Please don’t call yourself crushing on my man.”
She arched a brow.“Oh, so he’s your man now? I thought nothing was decided. I’m going to get going. I have a few things to get done before my date later.”
“Date?”I arched a brow, extremely curious, because my mother did not date. Not even casually. She delivered a one shoulder shrug.
“I’m an empty nester now. I might as well enjoy my freedom.”
“You’ve been an empty nester since I left for college. Who is your date with?”
“Roland.”
“About time.”I rolled my eyes and she narrowed hers.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“That man has been trying to be yours since he hired you. In fact, I’m pretty sure it’s why he hired you.”
“Or I’m just incredibly good with numbers and the best accountant he’s ever had.”
“Yep,”I signed, before I added,“I’m glad that you’re giving him a chance. You deserve to be happy too.”
She smiled and nodded, reaching forward to tuck hair behind my ear.“I love you and I’m proud of the woman you are, Somee. Never doubt that.”
“I don’t.”
I hugged her, and when she let me go, she glanced over her shoulder and my eyes followed, noticing Ryland was done with his call.“I’m going to say goodbye.”
We left the kitchen and she grabbed her coat and purse, pulling them on before Ryland joined us and we walked her to the door.
“Somee is my heart and I’m trusting you with her. Please don’t make me regret that decision.”
Ryland nodded.“You won’t because I understand the value of what you’re trusting me with.”His eyes shifted to me before they were back on her.
He hugged my mother before I got my arms around her one last time, then she was gone. Ryland and I settled on the sofawith me on one end while he sat in the center with my legs draped over his lap.
“Are we going to talk about you arguing with your mom about whether or not you’re moving to Crescent Falls?”
I narrowed my eyes and he shrugged, unbothered by my glare.“Same way you told me I don’t need to forget that you read lips, you don’t need to forget that I read hands.”
“It’s rude to invade someone’s conversation.”
“Not when it’s about me, but honestly, you looked stressed as fuck and I wanted to make sure you were good. If I needed to step in, I would have.”
I grinned.“You were going to defend me against my mother?”
“Respectfully, because Miranda Tyler doesn’t play about disrespecting parents, but yeah, I would have.”
“I appreciate that you wanted to but it wasn’t that bad. She just has a hard time with certain things.”
“Like you dating hearing men.”
I nodded.