Page 29 of Mr. Naughty List

“What?”

“Have to spend Christmas with her.”

Aaron swallowed hard, imagining what would happen if he told his mother he wasn’t coming over for Christmas Day. “I know. But despite everything, all our differences, she’s my mother. I love her. And I really want to enjoy my time with her this year.”

Lauren put her own leftovers back into the square, sectioned lunchbox she used. “Why do you give her a pass all the time?”

Aaron didn’t know that he gave his mother a pass, so much as he just hated to hurt her. He knew this wasn’t the life she’d imagined as a young woman. He wasn’t the son she’d wanted. His dad hadn’t been the husband or father she’d hoped for. And Christmas was an especially vulnerable time for her, had been ever since the divorce.

“She’s overly sensitive during the holidays because she thinks I have more fun with my dad.”

Lauren shrugged. “It’s the truth. You do. Rutty’s the best.”

Aaron rolled his eyes. “Don’t call him that.”

“Why? All your cousins do. When I was out on the farm with you for that Easter shindig last year, they were all going on about Uncle Rutty this and Uncle Rutty that.”

“His name’s Rutgers and it’s much more dignified.”

“Rutty’s more fun, though. Like Christmas at his place.” Lauren winked at him. “So, moving on, because I already know where every conversation about your mother ends up: you making excuses for her, nothing changing. Rinse, repeat. It’s exhausting and fruitless.”

Aaron jerked, the words a slap.

Lauren didn’t stop talking, though, or acknowledge that what she’d said hurt. “Why are you so…” She waved a hand at him up and down, and around and around. “Like that.”

“Like what?” What was so different about him today? Could getting laid really change his appearance so much?

“Rumpled? Haggard? I don’t know. You just look like you didn’t sleep at all last night. That Grindr date rough you up or what?”

Aaron flushed. “Nah. The Grindr datesstoodme up. Both of them.”

“Ah. Then why do you look…?” She grimaced and waved at him again.

Damn, he really must look a mess. “I picked up a guy at Scruffy City Hall. The, uh, lead singer in the band that was playing. Pretty hot guy.”

“Oh, yeah?” Lauren’s eyebrow shot up.

“Um.Yeah.”

Her eyes lit up with delight. “Yes, Aaron.” She put out a hand for a high five. Aaron slapped her palm. “Get it, baby. What’s his name?”

“RJ.” Aaron tugged his lunch back over, his appetite not really returning, but he hoped a bite of his sandwich might obscure the last name. “RJ Blitz.”

Lauren’s grin fell off her face. She sat back and gaped at him. “Excuse me? Did you say RJ Blitz? As in our tall, gangly,ex-studentfrom our days teaching at Taylor High RJ Blitz? Of the long hair and acne and scary glower that could explode a human brain from ten paces?”

Aaron swallowed and wiped his mouth with a napkin from his lunchbox. “He’s twenty-four now, his hair is short, and that was ages ago.”

“Holy shit, Aaron.” Lauren glanced around the room like there might be spies listening in the corners. “That’s…you know that’s not okay.”

“There’s nothing illegal about it.”

“No, but…” She blinked wildly, stunned. “How long ago was he a student exactly? We were still at Taylor High. That was, what, three years ago, right?”

“Yeah, but RJ was farther back than that. He was a student during my first year teaching. Your third.”

Lauren winced, dropped her fork into her thermos of mac and cheese, and stared at him. “I just…how can…? He was astudent,Aaron.”

“Yes, I know! But for God’s sake, he’s not now!”