Page 22 of Studs Up
“Look at you,” she sighed happily when she climbed the porch. Her hug was welcome, but the wet imprint she left on my clothes was not.
I followed her back into the house, closed the door, and locked it, eyeing the hives, and ensured none of them had followed her.
“They are sweet bees,” she said, hanging off her hat on a hook next to the door and kicking off her boots.
“Where are the boys?” She asked, peering into her living room.
“Kicked them out,” I said flatly.
“Oh, Nolan,” she turned and captured me with her hands. “You don’t need to be such a grump. They are good kids.”
She held my face, looked directly into my eyes, and examined me from the inside out. It was annoying that she could cut through my mystique like a hot knife, and I was soft butter.
“Ah, huh. What is it?”
“Do you think I came home because I need something?” I frowned at her.
“Of course you did,” she gave me a gentle pat on the cheek. “That’s what children do. We prepare them for the world and let them fly. But sometimes they need help and love, so they circle home.”
She turned around and made her way to the counter. I followed and sat at the little table. The spotted orange formica counters were well-worn in places she spent most of her time in. A half full pot of coffee sat on the counter. God knew how long it had been there.
She bustled and poured me a cup that she popped into the fucking microwave to reheat. I cringed, but I would drink it and keep my mouth shut. She put a plate of cookies on the table.
“Now, tell me what’s going on in that brain of yours.” There was no sense in beating around the bush, so I came out with it.
“Ma,” I took a breath. “What if I told you I was attracted to someone I had no fucking business being attracted to.”
Her smile broadened.
“That’s lovely, dear,” she said. “Who is he?”
For a second, I just blinked at her because I suddenly lost the ability to speak.
“What makes you think that?”
“Oh, my sweet boy,” she sat down. “I’m your mother. I see all.” She waggled her fingers like a witch about to cast a spell. “Boys were the only people you wanted to be around. And some of them you were particularly defensive of.” She said it with a conspiratorial smile and a wink.
Yeah, that was true, but only because there had been players that needed protecting, and that was my fucking job.
“Was it that obvious?”
“To me,” she smiled gently. “But I’m your mother. Everyone else thought you were a grumpy fuck.”
I smiled. I loved Ma very much.
“So, are you going to tell me who he is?” She looked at me expectantly.
“Uh, I don’t think I can.”
“Why not?”
“It was an accident that I found out he was gay.”
“Ah,” she nodded, taking that as an acceptable answer.
“He must be very special, though,” she said.
I raised an eyebrow at her. I didn’t think Monroe was anything special.
