Friends to Lovers (Heart of Hope 6)

Fuck. I’d have to try harder to look happier. “I’m not sad.”

“Lora says you’re heart broken. I didn’t even know you’d been seeing anyone. Why didn’t you tell me?”

I sighed as I sat on the edge of the bed and took her hand. “It wasn’t like that. I care for her, but it wasn’t serious.”

“Not like Lora was?”

I’d told Lora I loved her. I even asked her to marry me. So, on the face of it, it would appear that the relationship with Lora was more serious than with Petal, and yet, I couldn’t bring myself to agree with that statement.

“Right now, my focus is on my main woman, which is you.”

She smiled. “You’re a good boy, Cy.

And Lora, she’s been wonderful.”

“I know. I’m going to take her to dinner Saturday. As a thank you for all that she’s done.”

My mother’s eyes gleamed a little bit and I knew she was thinking that maybe Lora and I would reconcile.

“Like I said, you’re a good person. I’m so proud of you. And I know you said that you and Lora won’t be together again, but maybe you can start over. If you are going to stay in Chicago, maybe there’s a chance for you two again.”

I knew I needed to set her straight, and yet, I couldn’t. If the idea of me and Lora getting back together made her happy, I’d let her have it for now.

I kissed her hand. “Get some sleep mom.”

I was coming to regret that decision over the next few days as my mom brought out old photos of me and Lora, putting some around the house. She reminded me that I’d proposed to Lora at Roscoe’s, which I hadn’t remembered. Not that I’d forgotten how I’d proposed, but I hadn’t thought about it when she mentioned going to dinner there.

When Saturday night came, and Lora arrived, it was like prom night. My mom wanted pictures. I was able to get her off that idea, but I knew I needed to have a talk with her once this dinner was over. Next time, I’d have to find another way to thank Lora that didn’t involve something that might be construed as a date.

“I’m sorry about my mom,” I told Lora at the restaurant after we’d ordered and gotten our drinks.

She laughed. “It’s okay. It makes her happy to think you won’t be alone.”

“Women get offended if someone suggests they need a man to be happy, but somehow, it’s okay to suggest I need a woman to be happy.”

“It has nothing to do with gender. She’s a mom who’s worried you’ll be alone. But you won’t Cy. I’ve assured her that you’ll be okay.”

“I appreciate that. I don’t need her worrying about me.”

Lora sipped her wine. “I told her I’d look after you.”

My gaze jerked to her, thinking holy crap, not her too.

“Stop looking terrified, Cy. I didn’t mean like that. I meant like a friend.”

Whew. “Thank you. I need all the friends I can get.”

She pulled her napkin out and put it in her lap as the waiter set a basket of warm bread on the table. She took a slice, surprising me as she usually avoided the bread.

“Back on the carbs, huh?”

She laughed. “I allow myself to indulge when I go out. Maybe when we’re done here, we can get dessert. There is a bakery down the street that has some delicious cupcakes.”

“No.” My jaw tensed.

She frowned. “You have something against cupcakes? I know they seem like a child’s food—”

“It’s not that.” I looked away not wanting to talk about Petal.