Mia swallowed. “Hi.” Her eyes were wary as they met Cam’s. “I didn’t know you were coming.” Ugh, could she sound any less welcoming?
“I gave Michael a ride home from practice. He was telling me about the project, so I thought I could help.” Cam gave her a grin. “I know a lot about anatomy.”
She bit down a smart retort. “That’s really kind of you. Thank you.”
“Cam ordered some pizzas, too,” Josh said. “Isn’t that cool? He said you shouldn’t have to come home and cook every night.”
Cam lifted his eyebrows, that smile still ghosting his lips. She rolled her eyes at him, and it widened.
“That’s very nice of Cam,” Mia said. “But I don’t mind cooking.”
“I just heard that things got dicey around here at six,” Cam told her. “I kind of wanted to experience it for myself.”
“Mom shouts a lot when she’s cooking,” Josh told him. “But she’s always better after she eats.”
“She’s probably hangry.” Cam nodded. “I get like that, too.” He looked over at her. “Do you want me to grab you a cookie while we wait for the pizza?”
“I think I can manage,” she said dryly. “But thanks for your concern.”
“I’m thinking of it as life preservation. I’ve seen you angry before.”
Arching an eyebrow, she tipped her head to the side. “You haven’t seen anything, pal.”
Ugh that smirk. It did things to her. Things that she had no right feeling when her sons were in the room. “I’ll go get some plates out,” she told them. “Ready for the pizza.” And to get some distance from Cam. Having him here was confusing.
“Can I do my presentation first, Mom?” Josh asked her. “I’ve been waiting really patiently.”
She blew out a mouthful of air. “Of course, honey. I can’t wait to see it.”
Cam moved his right leg at the same time Michael moved his left. “You can sit here,” Cam told her, patting the middle of the sofa.
“The chair is fine.”
“No, go on the sofa, Mom. I want you to be able to see it all.” Josh gave her a grin. “It’ll be like presenting to the class if you all sit in a row.”
Mia sat down in the gap Cam had made, pressing her arms tightly against her torso so no part of her body was touching his.
And then he relaxed next to her, splaying out until his thigh rubbed against hers. If she moved over, she’d be pushing herself against Michael, and she knew he’d protest. Better to stay ramrod straight and hope that Josh spoke quickly.
“Ladies and Gentlemen,” Josh announced. “Welcome to my show.”
“It’s a presentation, Josh,” Michael murmured.
“Okay. Welcome to my presentation.” Josh beamed. “I’m gonna tell you all about the human body. Blood, guts, and all. It’s squelchy and it’s disgusting, but somehow it all comes together in the end.”
From the corner of her eye, Mia could see Cam smile. Did he have to be so good looking?
“Let’s start at the beginning. With the skin. Did you know it’s the body’s largest organ? It’s a waterproof living layer that protects us. So we should take care of it. Keep it clean, moisturize like my mom does, and try not to cut it too much.”
Cam shifted his leg again. His thigh muscles felt like steel against hers.
Mia kept her eyes straight ahead as her son made his way down the body, taking particular glee at the workings of the bowel. “Did you know all that brown stuff is really just waste?” he asked them. “Our body takes out the good stuff and uses it, then bundles the rest up. It’s a shame it smells so bad. Particularly Michael’s.”
“If you use that in your presentation, you’re a dead man,” Michael told him.
Josh sighed dramatically. “But it’s funny. Cam told me to add in some jokes. Warm up the room.”
Mia turned to look at Cam. His eyes were already focused on her. He lifted a brow as though he had no idea why she was glaring at him. She pulled her gaze away and stared resolutely at Josh.