Page 12 of Light It Up Red

I drop my bag on the floor and walk back out to the kitchen. There’s a note on the counter from my mom telling me to call her. I open the fridge and smile. She stocked my fridge. I let her think I’m hopeless when it comes to taking care of myself because nothing compares to my ma’s homemade cooking.

I dig my phone out of my pocket and do my best to ignore the fact that my dick is half-hard. I was expecting to come home and slide right back into Lili, not find my bed empty and my fridge full. I dial my mom’s number. She picks up on the third ring.

“Travis, I dropped some groceries off,” she says in way of greeting.

“I saw. Thanks, Ma.”

“I also met your friend,” she singsongs.

“What friend?”

“Liliana, pretty little thing. I like her.”

Oh my god, no wonder she fucking ran.

“What’d you say to her?” I ask my mother with a groan.

“Nothing! Just introduced myself. You should bring her home for dinner this weekend.”

“Ma, I just met her last night. I don’t think we’re at the dinner at the parents’ house phase of things yet.”

“But I’ve already met her, and I like her. So bring her to dinner,” Mom says in her don’t argue with me tone.

“Maybe one day. Thanks for the meals and groceries, Ma. I gotta go,” I tell her. “I love you.”

“Love you, Travis. Talk later,” she says.

I run a hand down my face. How the fuck do I salvage things with Lili now? She met my mom. I left her alone in my apartment and my mother turns up. God, could this shit get any more embarrassing?

Without overthinking it too much, I find Lili’s number in my phone. I stored it in my contacts as Sweet Lili, because she tastes so fucking sweet. Her whole personality—at least what I know of it so far—is sweet. Seeing her cheer me on when I was out on that ice did something to me. I want her at every fucking game. I want to see her face light up with excitement. I want her as my number one cheerleader.

Hitting the dial button, I wait. And wait. I’m about to abort mission when the line finally connects. “Hello?” Her voice is quiet, husky, like she’s just waking up.

“Did I wake you, babe?”

“Who is this?” she asks.

“How many fucking guys call you babe?” I fire back. “Actually… forget that. I don’t care because they’re irrelevant now that you’ve got me.”

“Travis?”

“The one and only, babe. Were you sleeping? It’s the middle of the day.”

“Someone kept me up all night,” she grumbles. “I’m tired.”

“I don’t recall you telling me to stop.” I smile into the phone, while grabbing a bottle of water out of the fridge, and head into my living room. “What are you doing tonight? I want you again.”

“You want me again? Not I want to see you again?” She laughs, sounding much more alert.

“Both.”

“I can’t tonight. I have plans.”

“Cancel them,” I tell her.

Lili laughs louder, and I can hear the ruffling of sheets. “My brother caught me coming home this morning. He offered me two hundred grand for your signed jersey,” she says, then adds, “Also, I kept your jersey.”

“It’s yours to keep. Take his money. I’ll get you another one.”