Juicy Rebound (IceCats 1)
I didn’t know that.
Chandler nods proudly. “Yeah, they adopted me when I was four.”
“Wow, I never would have suspected that. I always thought you looked like your dad.”
They share a laugh. “Everyone says that. My mom even teased that maybe he’d knocked up my birth mom.”
Mom laughs softly. “I love your parents. Such great people.”
“They are,” he agrees, and I can’t fight my smile anymore. I’ve never met his parents, but given how fondly he and my mom speak of them, I kind of wish I had. A comfortable silence falls over us as we begin to eat. “This is wonderful. Thanks for having me. I was gonna eat cereal.”
I laugh. “You don’t cook?”
“Nope, I suck at it.”
“Amelia is a wonderful cook,” Mom says, and I shoot her a look.
“I’m all right.”
“Better than me, I’m sure. I could burn water,” Chandler admits.
I giggle as I shake my head. “Whatever. I bet you’re better than you think.”
We share a look, and I swear the room is on fire. “I promise you, I suck.”
“So, Chandler,” Mom says, and he shifts his gaze to hers. “I have a question.”
He smiles. “Shoot.”
“I’ve always wanted to know if you’re named after Chandler Bing from Friends.”
Booming laughter fills the room, and I can’t help but join in. I’ve always wondered that but never asked. I was always too busy trying to get him to kiss me back in college. Man, I wonder how he kisses now.
“Yeah, Chandler wasn’t my name when my parents adopted me. I don’t even remember my birth name. My dad said he wanted me to have a new start, so they changed my name. My mom always wanted to name her son that, and my dad went with it.”
“That’s so sweet,” I say, and Chandler sends me a hot grin.
Before he can respond to me, though, my mom says, “I have another question.”
“Jeez, Mom,” I tease, and she laughs.
“What? I haven’t seen him in months!”
“It’s fine,” Chandler says with a sweet grin for my mom.
Her smile is full of warmth as she asks, “Do you have anyone special in your life? I was sorry to hear about your divorce.”
Chandler shakes his head, a rueful look on his face. “Believe me, that was for the best. And no, I don’t. Haven’t been able to get that someone special to go out with me.” His eyes meet mine for a split second before he reaches for his glass of wine.
Mom looks at me, her eyes dancing with mischief. “Well, that’s too bad. You’re a catch.”
Chandler smiles. “Thanks, Mrs. Justice.”
She’s still grinning, and for the first time since she’s been here, I want to throw something at her. “You know, Amelia is—” When her phone sounds, I almost cry out in relief. I do not need that can of worms opened at dinner. She reaches for it and makes a face. “Darn it, excuse me. It’s work, and I have to answer since I haven’t been there the last few days.”
Mom gets up and heads into her bedroom, leaving me alone with Chandler.
Our eyes lock, and I smile. “She’s crazy.”
“She’s the best,” he says softly, holding his glass between his fingers as he swirls the wine in it. His eyes are so dark, so beautiful as they hold mine. “Miss work?”
“Not at all,” I laugh as I pick apart a piece of garlic bread. “I’m thinking about quitting.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“You should go work at a gym—if you need to work.”
“Maybe, I don’t know. I feel like they wouldn’t want me.” His brows draw in, and I shrug. “You know, because I dropped out of school and basically threw away a scholarship.”
“They don’t need to know that,” he says simply. “They’ll look up your scores, and they’ll hire you on the spot.”
My lip twitches with a grin. “You think so?”
“I know so. You were one of the best. Anyone would love to have you coach their kids.”
“Thanks,” I say bashfully, and he tips his glass to me.
“Anytime.”
Anytime. Why do I love the way he says that?
“So, Ryan called you?”
“Yup,” he says with a nod. “I wasn’t sure if you’d want to know that.”
“I would have. Makes sense why you’ve been stalking me,” I tease.
He scoffs. “I’m not trying to be around you because of that. I want to see you for me.”
“So that’s why you came to check on me?”
“Yup, I was worried about you.”
Our gazes stay locked as we both sip our wine. “You don’t have to be.”
“Well, I am.”
I am convinced I am on fire. I almost want to check, but I can’t seem to break eye contact even if I wanted to. He has me trapped, and in a way, I’m okay with that. I clear my throat, and I know I need to change the subject. “I didn’t know you were adopted.”
He nods slowly. “Yeah, my biological dad ran out on my biological mom, and apparently, she was also a crackhead. She didn’t take care of me, and the state took me. She gave up her rights, and then my mom and dad came to the rescue.”