“Who? Oh, Max? He’s such a nice man.”

“Top?” His voice came out louder than he’d intended, and he deliberately softened it. “I mean, yeah, he’s a decent guy. A real hard worker. In fact, I was telling Auggie that he’s probably a softie on the inside.” Buried very, very deep.

“Exactly. I think he acts tough to keep others away. I get the sense he still misses his wife. She died fifteen years ago, you know. Cancer.”

“No kidding. I knew he was married but not that she passed away.” That explained a lot about the gruff older man. “So you’re going to a movie later?”

She nodded. “I need a break myself. I’ve been helping Jane with her online craft store, and a bunch of us have been putting in hours with Pets Fur Life, that animal charity that’s been pretty popular.”

“You’re getting a pet?” Was his mother having some kind of midlife crisis?

“Um, no. I’m helping animals get adopted and working to schedule a few events since their coordinator is out East helping sick family.”

“You’re such a nice lady. Trying to get yourself into heaven with good works.” He patted her head.

She slapped his hand. “Don’t be a jerk, boy.”

He chuckled. “I still think you’re nice.” Too nice for Top.

“I am nice. So nice that you’re buying me a rocky road ice cream cone.”

“Sounds good.”

“And while we’re eating, you can tell me all about this new woman who has you hooked. Apparently, you’re eating out of the palm of her hand, and it’s embarrassing and amusing.”

“Freaking Auggie,” he muttered.

Cynthia hugged his arm as they walked. “She likes the girl. Kind of. But of course, she thinks it would be best if I met her too. How about inviting her to dinner tomorrow night?”

Xavier had called it with Justine earlier. A need to use the fake girlfriend. He smiled, pleased he could rationalize the need to spend more time with her. Not because he was falling for her, but because his mom wanted to meet her.

The lie scoured his brain, but better discomfort than a broken heart when the relationship ended.

He paused in thought. Is that what I’m afraid of? Grief?

“Xavier?”

“Sure, Mom,” he hurried to say, bemused at his inner demons. “I’ll invite her. Tomorrow, what time?”

“Six sounds good. Anything she doesn’t like?”

“Nosy women prying into her life, I’m sure.”

His mother popped him in the back of the head. “Ow.”

“You’re not so old that I can’t take you down a notch.”

“Yes, Mom.”

She smiled. “Good. Now tell me about Justine Ferrera and what’s going on with Aunt Truth. Any new advice letters that have you stumped?”

“Not so far. Although there was one from a harangued man in his thirties dealing with a demanding mother.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Is that so?”

He smirked. “Yeah. Aunt Truth told him to give his mother whatever she wanted and she’d leave him alone.”