Page 28 of Better Together

“Yep. With whatever you need.” He glanced around at her new digs and the way her furniture fit perfectly in the space. Alexis had convinced her the townhome was just right, and he agreed. His mom seemed happy.

After a few hours of unpacking and organizing, Zeke pulled his phone from his back pocket. He didn’t know why he expected Alexis to text him. Being inseparable the last two weeks had messed with his sanity. Being with Alexis brought the best out of him. He no longer had the need to flirt or to think of anyone but his sexy contractor. The problem was, she wasn’t his, and he’d need to accept it or do something to rectify the situation.

“Honey, are you expecting a call?”

He’d been deep in thought, and his mom’s voice startled him. “Nope, just checking my email,” he lied.

“Come on. Let’s visit the diner for an early dinner. I don’t have anything in the house.”

“Sure. I could eat.”

* * *

Rosie gathered two menus and gestured toward a back booth. Zeke liked mom time and was happy to accompany her to dinner.

“The special is a hot beef sandwich or walleye with glazed carrots and garlic mashed potatoes.”

Linnie handed the menu back after taking a quick peek. “The hot beef sounds delicious, Rosie. Thank you.”

“Make that two.” Zeke winked at Rosie and handed her the menu.

“Anything else to drink besides water?”

“Coffee. Decaf for me,” Linnie said.

“I’m fine with water. Thanks.”

“Coming right up.”

Excited over the move, Linnie beamed. “It’s nice to be close to the lake without all the work. And the other wonderful thing . . .” She leaned forward and spoke in a whisper.

Zeke’s jaw dropped when his mom confessed, in a hushed tone, how much Owen had paid for their family home. Happy for her, he hoped she’d do some traveling with her good friend Patricia, Alexis’s mom. They’d been talking about taking a trip together for years. With less responsibility, she just might.

Their dinners arrived and they dug in.

His phone chimed, and he pulled it from his back pocket. Rain starting in ten minutes. He rolled his eyes and placed the phone facedown on the table. He had hoped it was Alexis saying she had gotten back with a “Hey, stop by.” No such luck.

Zeke pushed the mashed potatoes around on his plate.

“A penny for your thoughts.”

He glanced up at his mom. “It’s nothing.”

“Is it about Alexis and her visitor?”

He took a sip of his water. “I’d rather not talk about it.”

She sighed and placed her fork on the table, pushed her plate to the side, and leaned forward. “This is your chance to tell Alexis how you feel. You might have been in different places before, but I think . . . This could possibly be the time. Give it a shot. I need grandbabies.”

“Don’t worry, Ethan and Maggie will supply you with some.”

She sighed at the pleasant thought.

Thankful that the diner wasn’t busy and that they were seated away from the only two other families enjoying their meals, he leaned forward and lowered his voice. “I don’t want to mess things up. She’s under a lot of pressure with this contest and winning the bid for the Whitmore Estate. I don’t want to be a distraction. What if she doesn’t feel the same?”

“What if she does?” His mom placed her hand on his. “Zeke, you two have been denying your feelings for too long. Don’t think the women of this town haven’t noticed. The dance you shared the night of your sister’s wedding . . . Let’s just say that when you left, Alexis looked like someone kicked her puppy.”

His smile picked up momentum as his mother continued.