Until Cobi (Until Him 3)

“Mom, there are only four of us eating. I think that’s plenty,” I say, as she empties the entire new box into the bowl. When she slams the empty box down on the counter and looks at me, I feel my lips twitch but hold up my hand in front of me. “Ignore me. Make whatever you like.”

“I will.” She huffs again then her eyes go past my shoulder. Her face fills with surprise and softness.

I turn, knowing Hadley is there, then hold out my hand to her when I see she’s nervously nibbling on her bottom lip. Once she places her soft, delicate hand in mine, I turn her to face my parents while I tuck her under my arm. “Mom, Dad, I’d like you to meet Hadley. Hadley, my parents, Liz and Trevor Mayson.”

“Mrs. and Mr. Mayson,” she says quietly. “It’s nice to meet you both.”

“Call me Liz,” Mom says, coming forward and pulling Hadley away from me to give her a hug. “I’m so happy to meet you.”

“You too,” Hadley replies when Mom lets her go.

“Call me Trevor, honey.” Dad gets up and comes around to kiss Hadley’s cheek. When he pulls away, he looks at me and winks before going back to his coffee.

“I’m making pancakes!” Mom exclaims a little too loudly while spinning around and going to the stove.

Placing my mouth near Hadley’s ear, I whisper, “Mom’s a little nervous about meeting you.”

“Really?” She looks up at me in surprise.

“Yeah, she’s never met any of the women I’ve dated, so this is new for her too.”

“What?” Her eyes widen. “Never?”

I shrug. “Why would I introduce them to someone, when I knew it wasn’t really going anywhere?”

“Ugh.” She presses her lips together, and then her nose scrunches up. When she relaxes her lips, she announces, “I think we should probably never talk about this again.”

I hear my dad laugh and look at him.

“What?” He shrugs one shoulder. “I’m just enjoying my coffee.”

I shake my head at him then look at Hadley. “Want some coffee?”

“Yes, please.”

“Take a seat. I’ll fix you a cup.”

“Thanks.”

I give her waist a squeeze and place my lips to her temple before I let her go.

“So, Hadley, tell me about you.” Dad looks at her when she takes a seat next to him.

“Really, there’s not much to tell.” Her eyes go to him. “I grew up here. I went to college in Nashville, so I lived there for years and only recently moved back to town.”

“I didn’t know that,” I say, and her eyes meet mine.

“Yeah, I rented a small apartment there. The rent was cheap and my landlord was great. I would probably still be there, but the owners put the house on the market a few months ago. When that happened, I knew it was time to move closer to my job. It’s nice not having to commute every day, since that added another two hours onto my workday.”

“Cobi says you’re a social worker,” Mom says quietly, and Hadley nods. “That’s a noble profession, kind of like Cobi being a police officer.”

“His job is much more important than mine.” Hadley smiles at Mom then me.

“I don’t think so, baby. Most of the time, I’m dealing with adults who have already chosen their path. You’re helping kids direct theirs. Your job is one of the most important in the world, second to being a parent.” As I finish speaking, her face is softer than I’ve ever seen it and her eyes are wet.

“I’ll be right back,” Mom says quietly before disappearing around the corner toward the half bath in the hall with her head down. Dad gets up and follows, but he gives me a look, letting me know that she’ll be okay, before he goes.

“You’re a good man, Cobi.” My eyes leave my dad’s back and meet Hadley’s. “A really good man.” She leans across the counter and grabs hold of my tee with a fist at my chest. When she pulls me forward, I give in to her demand and kiss her. I know she only means to touch her mouth to mine, but I deepen the kiss and touch my tongue to hers. After she drags her mouth from mine, we stare at each other until I hear my parents coming out of the bathroom. When they emerge, I can tell my mom’s been crying. It’s not a surprise; she’s always been that way.

“Are you okay, Mrs.— I mean Liz?” Hadley asks, and Mom gives her a shaky smile.

“One thing you’ll learn pretty quickly, sweetheart, is these Mayson men know how to use their words to piss you off one minute and melt your heart the next.”

“I can see that.” Hadley grins at my mom.

“Though, the pissing you off business happens more often than the heart melting,” Mom adds.

“That so?” Dad asks, and Mom shrugs at him. “My mind must be failing me, ‘cause you didn’t seem pissed last night or this morning.”