Page 41 of More Bite than Bark

“It’s closer to where I live now.I don’t feel like making the trip all the way into Mobile.”

“You moved out of Mobile?What were you thinking.”

“I’ll tell you if you meet us there.”

“Us?”Mama caught the word right away.

“Yes, Mama.I thought I would bring my new roommate and let you meet them.”Now she was grinning.It was petty, she knew, but messing with Mama could be fun.Especially when she knew something Mama wanted to know and Elizabeth wasn’t quite ready tell her.

“Oh, all right.I know you’re not going to give in and unless I agree to where you want to go, I’ll have to keep waiting until you’re ready to come closer.I’m not willing to wait that long to see you.”

“Then I’ll see you in a couple of hours.Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to take a shower and get ready.I’ll see you soon.”

“Don’t be late,” Mama said before disconnecting the call.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes.As if she was ever late.Once.One time, more than five years ago, she’d been late because a tire had blown on her car and had taken over an hour for roadside assistance to get to her, much less to change it and Mama never let her live it down.

She dropped her phone into her lap and pinched the bridge of her nose as she took several deep breaths and wondered if how funny Mama’s reaction would be was worth the drama and the headache she was going to cause in the long run.

Maybe not, but Kevin was worth the headache.That part she had no doubt about.

“Ready for the tub?”Kevin asked from the bathroom doorway.She glanced over and did a double take when she realized he was leaning against the door frame, watching her, in nothing but his boxer briefs.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Hexopenedthedoorto the diner Elle had negotiated with Mama over, and held it open for Elle to enter, then followed her inside.She’d stopped just inside the door, looking around for Mama.

“Two?”a waitress asked, approaching them.

“Actually, I see our party,” Elle said.

Her tone told Hex she was smiling without having to look at her.She stepped past the hostess and into the diner.Hex followed her without a word.

“Hello, Mama,” Elle said as they reached the table.

Sandy Williamson was sitting at a four top, her back to them as she faced the window, sipping at a mug of what was likely coffee.

“Elizabeth, there you are!”Sandy stood and wrapped her arms around Elle.She looked at Kevin, her eyes skimming his too long for society hair, his cut, down to his jeans and boots, and frowned.“I thought you were bringing your new roommate.Did something happen and Kevin brought you instead?”

“No Mama, and I told you roommate wasn’t the word I would use.”She pulled away from her mother then slid into the other side of the booth, turning to give Hex a smile.

Hex didn’t wait to be invited, but slid into the booth beside her, draping one arm along the back of the seat behind her.

Sandy’s gaze went back and forth between Elle and Kevin as if she suspected there was more that she wasn’t being told.He wondered what was going through her head, but knew she wouldn’t be telling them, because someone might overhear them and then rumors might start.Sandy would avoid that if possible.

A waitress appeared, she handed them menus, brought glasses of water, and took their drink orders before disappearing again.

“What’s going on here?”Sandy’s voice was careful as she continued to look back and forth between them as if not sure which one would answer her.

“I told you.I brought who I moved in with.”

“You’re living with Kevin?”Sandy frowned.

“I am.”

“As?”

“What do you mean, Mama?”