Page 112 of Should Our Hearts Catch Fire

“Milfs?”

She looks at him, covering her mouth with her palm. “Oh dear.”

It’s so hard to keep up with new slang these days. Curious, Ellis types a quick text to Gabriel.

Ellis:What’s a milf?

Gabriel:OMG. Get your ass over here right now!!!

Gabriel:You’re not to be alone with my mum ever again!!!

He frowns. Is it something bad? He’ll have to google it later.

Gabriel is standing in the middle of the café, arms crossed and tapping his foot like an angry parent. Carrie, bless her heart, doesn’t take note of any of that and spreads her arms to envelope him in a bear hug.

“My boy!”

Gabriel’s facade cracks a little. He covers it up by rolling his eyes and returning the hug like it’s a huge imposition.

“What did we talk about, Mum?”

“Your hot boyfriend?”

“Mum!”

“You did not do him justice.”

“When did you say you’re flying back?”

“Be nice to your mum, Gabe,” Zeke says, manifesting behind Gabriel.

“Zeke!” Carrie lights up, bestowing the same greeting on Zeke. “So nice to see you.” She takes a step back, looking him up and down. “My, my, did you get bigger?”

A salacious grin appears on Zeke’s face. “You can check for yourself.”

“Oh my god,” Gabriel whines, looking on the verge of a mental breakdown.

“Oh, you!” Carrie slaps Zeke’s chest.

“Did you have a face-lift? You look smashing,” Zeke compliments, adding a wink.

Carrie tucks a wavy lock behind her ear. “You’re gonna make me blush.”

“Suck up,” Gabriel grumbles. He turns to face Ellis, giving him a pinched smile. “So…that’s my mum.”

“She’s a…character.”

“Are you traumatized? You’re traumatized, aren’t you? I’ll pay for therapy, I promise.”

Ellis laughs, taking Gabriel’s hand. “I’m fine. I like her. She’s… You take a lot after her.”

Gabriel releases a deep sigh. “It’s a cross I have to bear.”

“That was a compliment. It was!” he insists when Gabriel looks skeptical.

Gabriel shakes his head, smiling, and leans in to steal a kiss. “I’m sorry I had to bail on our date.”

“About that… I was thinking, I actually got us tickets to Straddie. For Sunday.”