Page 125 of Family Bonds- Emma & Warren

The team was in first place and the talk that she followed was they were the favorite to go all the way.

“I don’t think that will happen,” Emma said. “But if it does, I’ll have to trash you for keeping that secret when I’ve never done it.”

Her mother was laughing on the other end of the phone. “I expect you will do that.”

“Never,” she said. “I get my talent from you.”

She wouldn’t throw her mother under the bus like that. Who the hell would do that to a parent?

“You do,” her mother said. “But you’ve got plenty on your own. We write differently. We aren’t even competing, though people are going to put it out there.”

“I know they will,” she said. “It is what it is.”

“How much is Warren being bugged over this?” her mother asked.

“A little,” she said. “He talked to Mike the night it came out and that was it. He isn’t posting anything on social media and neither am I. I know it will blow over and he has to focus on the game right now and it’s better that way.”

“Is everything okay?” her mother asked. “With the two of you?”

“Don’t tell me you’re believing the crap that was posted weeks ago.”

“No,” her mother said. There was humor in her mother’s voice. “Never. I’m asking as your mother.”

“I think everything is fine. It’s more about the time we are apart. I think it’s getting to him more than me. Is that horrible of me to feel that way?”

“You can’t change how you feel,” her mother said. “It doesn’t change your love for him, just that you don’t like to be around people as much.”

“I know,” she said. “And he understands that. Even when I was there last week for a few days, I did my thing and he was in the house. Then when I was done, I searched him out. It worked.”

“Then what is the problem?” her mother asked.

“I don’t think there is a problem. He hasn’t said anything to me if he thought there was one.”

“But you’re reading into the fact there might be?” her mother asked.

“You know, Mom. You’re making it hard for me to enjoy watching my hot boyfriend on TV with all these questions.”

“I’ll stop now,” her mother said. “I promise.”

“Thanks. I’m going to get some food and enjoy the game.”

“While you do other work,” her mother said.

“Yep. I only watch when the offense is on the field. You won’t tell anyone, will you?”

“You know I can keep a secret.”

She wiggled her shoulders some. “The world now knows how well you can.”

“I don’t care what the world thinks,” her mother said. “I only care about my family. That’s always who I’ve put first. You know that.”

“I do,” she said. “And I’m understanding it all more too.”

“Good,” her mother said. “Those are the things a parent wants to hear.”

“And you got to hear it from me,” she said. “I’m going to hang up and get some lunch. My fridge is full of fresh stuff still.”

“Because you’re going to the store more regularly since you’re out anyway,” her mother said. “I know how you operate.”