“Your mom’s still got it.”

Cherisse’s voice in his ear startled him. When had she moved to sit next to him?

“I’m keeping an eye on that dude. He best not get any ideas.” He glared at the guy to drive the point home. Pointless move because the dude was too busy staring into his mother’s eyes to notice anything around him.

“He’s cute.”

Keiran swung his gaze to Cherisse, who was trying, and failing, to hide her grin behind her glass of juice. She’d switched from the wine a while ago.

“Not happening.”

“Your mother’s an attractive woman. Come on, don’t cramp her style.”

“There is no way in hell that dude is...” He narrowed his eyes at her. She was biting her lip, barely keeping her laugh in. “You’re joking, aren’t you?”

“Yup.” She looked so pleased with herself.

He liked this, them hanging out. It was tipping the weird balance they had into unchartered territory. Them maybe being friends, outside of their truce, something they’d never been the entire time they’d known each other. It was odd, yet he liked it. Didn’t want to look too closely at why that was. Like you don’t already know. He brushed that pesky voice away. His teenage self was living a long-buried dream right now. He’d never actually hated Cherisse, not really. She’d frustrated him, sure, but at some point, their back and forth had gotten fun. He’d just kept that to himself.

As the night wore on, his mother sobered up enough to be less chatty, but clearly not enough to realize this Adam dude was full-on flirting. The last straw was Adam asking his mother for her number.

“Hey, whoa.” Adam threw up his arms when Keiran got to his feet the minute the question left Adam’s mouth. “She’s a dentist. I need a dentist. Teeth care is important.”

Adam had asked for the number of his mother’s practice, but Keiran wasn’t buying that shit. His mother’s laugh was loud enough to have some patrons, dining inside, look out to where they were all still seated.

“I’m flattered you think this young man’s giving me the time of day,” his mother said, patting his cheek.

Adam looked too pleased with himself. This swirl of annoyance was leftovers from dealing with his father, who had thankfully left with his girlfriend as soon as they’d all come downstairs. He’d been on edge the entire time. His sole moment of reprieve had been that hug from Cherisse, which he shouldn’t think too hard about.

He needed some air before he caused a scene and punched a guy out.

He didn’t go far, just a little way from their table, leaning against one of the columns as he stared out at the dark water.

“A dollar for your thoughts.”

He swung his head to the side and watched as Maxine leaned against the column opposite his. “A whole dollar? Lucky me. What happened to a penny?” he teased.

Maxine shrugged. “I figure a dollar may be more of an attractive incentive for you to share your thoughts.”