His Curvy Best Friend - Curvy Girl Dating Agency

“Very funny. Just for that I’ll keep these for myself.”

Ma turned and gasped with wide green eyes, at the big bouquet of flowers in my hand. Then a quick frown replaced her smile. “What did you do, or what are you planning to do, boy?”

“Seriously, that’s your response? I think maybe you ought to take Olive up on one of those etiquette classes, because yours could use some work, Ma.”

“Oh hush,” she said and swatted my backside with one hand while taking the flowers with the other. “They’re gorgeous and they look expensive. Not that I can tell one way or the other. Thank you, my love.” She set the flowers on the lone empty spot on the small counter and cupped my face. “I love them. Now, what’s the occasion?”

“No reason. I saw them and thought you might like something pretty for the table, so your future dates know that you expect to be treated like a lady.” I still wasn’t completely comfortable with the idea of my mother dating, but I was powerless to stop her, so all I could do was protect her.

“Ah, I see. Well thank you, Stone. Such a sweet boy, it’s a shame you’re still single.”

“No kidding.” There wasn’t a trace of sarcasm in her voice, so I shrugged and chalked it up to general mothering. “Need some help with anything?” Before she could ask me to do the one task that had always been mine, I remembered. “Oh, I have something else for you,” I told her and rushed back into the living room.

“You must be really worried if I’m getting two gifts today.”

“Nope, these I made for dinner.” I held out a glass casserole dish that was probably hers, and let Ma inspect the mashed potatoes I’d made at home for today’s Sunday dinner. “What do you think?”

Ma eyed the offering carefully, one brow cocked in question. “They look buttery which is always good. Did you whip them?”

“I did,” I smiled proudly.

“And those little brown bits?”

“Roasted garlic.”

“Impressive.” She turned and reached for a spoon from the drainboard and took the smallest bite I had ever seen, but then she moaned in satisfaction. “Delicious. You both can stay.”

“Gee, thanks. What are we having?”

“Roasted herb chicken, asparagus and caramelized onions, and I’m just about to put a sweet potato pie in the oven, so I hope you brought your appetite.”

“Always.” My stomach growled in anticipation and hunger as she spoke and the smells of cooking food started to fill the kitchen.

“So, how are things with you and Sophie?”

I laughed. “I’m surprised you waited to so long to ask.” I half expected her to bombard me with questions as soon as I stepped inside my childhood home.

“It took all the restraint I had, so give me all the deets, as you young people say.”

“I don’t say deets,” I told her with a playful smile. “But there are none to share. We’re giving each other space.”

Ma harrumphed and turned away from the counter with her best glare. “That sounds like a bunch of bull crap to me. What does that even mean?”

“It means just what I said. We are no longer joined at the hip.”

“And how long is that supposed to last?”

I shrugged, wishing I had the answer to that question, because I missed my best friend and I wanted her back. “Until things are back to normal, I guess.”

“Until you can look at her without wanting to jump her bones, you mean?”

I groaned and shook my head. “Ma, please.”

“That’s it?” I nodded, and Ma groaned as she put the pie into the oven. “Boy you’ve got it ass backwards. What you need to do is-,” Before Ma could drop her wisdom, the doorbell sounded. “Go see who that is. Please.”

“Yeah, sure.” Since the front door was open with a locked screen door, there was no mystery to the identity of the person standing on Ma’s doorstep in a pretty white dress that looked soft, almost angelic. “Sophie. Hey.”

“Stone,” she sighed. “Hi. How are you?”

“Fine. You here for dinner?” I tried to sound normal, but the gruffness turned my voice to gravel.

“I am. Is that all right?” I hated that she had to ask, that Sophie felt so unsure of her place.

“Of course it is. You’re always welcome here Soph, you know that.”

“But not at your place?” I arched a brow, silently asking if she really just asked that, and Sophie shook her head, blond hair spilling over her shoulders. “Sorry. I know, but things are so weird right now.”

“Come on in. Ma’s in the kitchen.” I stepped back and held my breath so her sweet, summery scent didn’t invade my senses and make me remember how badly I wanted her.

“Who is it, Stone?”

“Encyclopedia salesman. He’s kind of cute, should I invite him to dinner?”

Sophie smiled a me over her shoulder and my heart stuttered to a stop in my chest. Why did she have to be so beautiful, and why did her particular brand of beauty appeal to me so damn much? “You’re bad,” she mouthed right before colliding into Ma’s embrace.