“Mara.” Mom sighed. “I love having you around but not when it costs you your own health. I’m going to fall asleep soon. Go grab a bite and get some rest.”
The corner of my mouth lifted. Always a mother. “Okay, but I want to be here tomorrow to hear what the doctors have to say.”
“They’ll probably release me. I’m feeling better and not in the middle of a flare-up.” She shifted in the bed as much as she could. Her disease had robbed much of her mobility. Some people lived decades with MS, but Mom had deteriorated rapidly.
My phone vibrated. A ping of excitement speared me. Could it be?
Maybe it was just Chris telling me about a new find on eBay we should purchase for the store. I dabbled in pawning collectibles, but only because he had oodles of knowledge and a passion for it. It’d made a nice income stream on top of my regular sales. Chris got a raise and permission to fully geek out over an old tin Spiderman lunch box, and the store garnered a solid reputation.
I peeked at my screen.
Holy moly! It read Sam. Hungry?
I jerked my gaze back up to my mom, who watched me with interest.
“Hot date?” Mom’s lips quirked.
“Maybe.” I relished these moments where we could be a normal mom and daughter.
“Good. Don’t let him break your heart.”
I kissed Mom goodbye and rushed out of the hospital room. I texted back.
I haven’t eaten yet. Meet at Blue Hound?
An immediate answer. Can I get dropped off there?
A thousand yeses! U like driving my car that much?
Gimme ur keys.
With a grin, I strained to keep from sprinting out of the hospital.
Wes
I dubiously eyed the burger joint. This was where Mara wanted to eat?
She’d invited me and I’d half expected her to choose a place with a price tag that she’d let me pick up. After a day of golfing, I wasn’t overdressed for Blue Hound. Hell, I didn’t think there was a way to underdress.
Instead of sleek lines, the exterior was comprised of roughened wood and cheap paneling. Whenever the door opened, rowdy laughter drifted out. The smell of meat-on-grill teased my stomach, but I doubted the cut of meat was close to any quality my personal chef used.
A car engine turned my head. Mara and her reliable sedan were pulling in. I tracked her progress like a guard dog, ignoring the thrill at her arrival.
She killed the engine and got out, but I still couldn’t see her. Darkness set in Minnesota well before nine p.m. this time of year. Light glowing from street lamps scattered around the parking lot highlighted the messy style she’d thrown her hair up in. When she cleared the cars, she looked just as adorable and doable as when she’d changed out of her clubbing clothes. Black and red leggings—was that an Iron Man design?—and an oversized red sweater with a lightning bolt.
Mixing Marvel and DC. Equal opportunity fangirl?
And the fact that I knew the difference… I mentally shook my head.
I frowned. She’d said she hadn’t eaten yet, but I hadn’t thought about why. Arcadia closed at six on Saturdays. I knew, I’d done my research on the place.
What had she been doing?
She faltered when she noticed my expression.
I smiled, purposely infusing warmth into my expression. “There she is.”
“I didn’t think you’d beat me here.” She crossed her arms to ward off the chill in the air.
I wouldn’t be surprised if she had a Wookie coat stashed away.
“Traffic was light.” I’d been in the area. My office was close by. So was Arcadia. Must be how she knew about this place. I opened the door for her.
Stepping in, I cringed when my running shoes crunched on peanut shells. Good thing I hadn’t changed clothes before I’d spent the evening working. Crunching my Paul Andrews through shells and burger grease would get my account at Barneys New York suspended.
The dull roar in the restaurant wasn’t unlike my club, but it was more boisterous. Odd, since there wasn’t a dance floor. Booths and tables and peanut shells as far as I could see.
Mara slid her hand into mine and pulled me toward the bar. “They have the best food here. I thought about stopping at the hospital cafeteria, but I got out of work late and by the time I got there, they’d shut down the grill. I wanted real food.”
I dropped her hand like it was hot when I realized I didn’t want to let go of it to sit. We settled at a table and a young woman took our order. I didn’t fail to notice the special smile she gave me. As long as the girl didn’t know who I really was, I wouldn’t give her a second thought.
I caught Mara’s smirk.
“That must happen to you everywhere.” No jealousy tinged her words.
She was right. It did. I rolled a shoulder and sipped my water. “It must to you, too.”
She barked out a laugh and then paused when she saw I wasn’t chuckling. “Oh, you’re serious. Not really, no.”
Either she was playing coy or she was truly oblivious. When my bartender had called, he’d labeled her a “hot chick.” The young host of this joint had damn near wet himself to greet her when they’d walked in. Her girl-next-door appeal must be what caught the men. And those damn leggings showing off her curves.
I decided it was time to dig for info. “How’s your mom?”
She pursed her lips and stirred her soda. “She’s better than last night. Meds are working.”
I waited. She didn’t offer more. As far as cons go, it wasn’t an elaborate one. How often had her mom been “in the hospital” when she’d been with Sam? “That’s good then. Must be a relief.”
She nodded and I thought back to when Sam had been in the hospital after his first heart attack. I hadn’t found out until after my dad’s double bypass when his assistant had called to request me to
