Page 5 of Anything Goes

Sighing, she reached across the table and looked me in the eyes. “Are you sure you’re okay with doing this? I know this is a big change for you.”

I squeezed her hand. “I assure you that I'm fine with it. I wasn’t on the force that long, but it didn’t take much time for me to realize that it wasn’t for me. Especially after everything that happened. Trust me, I have zero regrets.”

“I’m glad to hear that, son. That really warms my heart,” she replied as she stood up and walked into the kitchen. Searching through one of the cabinets, she said, “Oh, and I’ve heard about the head track coach over there. Word has it, she’s the best of the best. I’m glad you’re going to be partnered with someone like her. Have you met her yet?”

Unable to hold back my smile, I lifted the mug to my lips, and said, “Yeah, I’ve met her.”

“Oh okay, good. So, what do you think? Do you think you two will be a great fit together?”

Still smiling, I said, “Most definitely. She’s everything that I want in a partner.”

“Great. That means the winning streak will continue. I know how you are about working with nothing but the best.”

“Yeah, she’s definitely the best. I don’t have a doubt in my mind about that,” I said. “But, on another note, have you talked to Dad?”

Immediately, my mother stopped everything that she was doing and glared at me. “Now, why in the hell would you ask me that? You know I’m not talking to your father right now.”

“Still?”

“Yes, still. He had a lot of nerve showing up on my date the other night trying to get all up in my business. I don’t show up when he’s out having his little flings.”

“Yeah, but I somewhat think you wanted that to happen. I mean, you did tell him the day, time and the place. That doesn’t sound like a woman that’s trying to keep her ex-husband out of her business. In fact—”

Stopping me, she threw her hand up. “Stay out of grown folks business.”

“I’m just saying, it seems a little weird that you would give him all of that information knowing the kind of man that he is. He pops up at shit on a regular.”

“Yeah, well, I can tell him whatever I want. That still doesn’t give him the right to pop up on me and ruin a perfectly good evening. Jameson won’t even speak to me.”

I shrugged. “Well, do you blame him? If the scene went anything like the vision I have going on in my head, I would run like hell too.”

I didn’t have to be there to know that my father made a scene. Acting a fool was his specialty, especially when it came to my mother. He was still in love with her and bitter about their divorce. He wasn’t happy that she decided to divorce him simply because of his poor money management skills.

Over the last few years, he claimed that he’d gotten better, but my mother didn’t believe him. That didn’t stop her from loving him though. So, rather than taking vows with him again, she decided that just being each other’s companion from time to time was enough.

“Your father did make a scene, which is why I’m not talking to his ass.”

“We all know that’s not going to last,” I said, laughing. “You’re known for giving him the cold shoulder for a couple of days, but by day three, you’re talking to him again. If you ask me, I think it’s just foreplay to you.”

“Okay, now it’s time for you to leave,” she said, snatching my mug.

“Wow, so you’re really going to cut me off because I’m spitting a little truth?”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t have time to play games with your father.”

“Oh please, you do that shit all day every day. He likes it, you like it. It’s fine, you can admit it.”

Before she could respond, my cell rang. I recognized the number, but I didn’t want to answer it.

Hitting the decline button, I stuffed my cell into my pants pocket.

“Who was that?”

“Nobody,” I replied.

“It definitely didn’t look like it was nobody.”

Standing up, I gave my mother a kiss on the forehead. “I’m about to head out. Call Daddy. I’m sure he’s losing his mind from not talking to you.”