“Ricky. I love your hair long.” Elana lifted handfuls of his hair and cradled his jaw briefly. “There’s my boy,” she said when Ash sidled up and hugged her.
“You’re early,” he said, and his eyes went over his mom’s head to Gloria. A smile played just behind the stubble. So, he’d known his mother was coming and hadn’t bothered to tell her. Interesting.
“Yes, well. We came in for vacation now instead of waiting. Your father was sick of being at home. Yard work is getting to him.” She made a shooing motion to the guys. “Go eat your pizza. Gloria and I are going out for a sophisticated lunch.”
“That so?” Ash asked, his eyebrow hitching, eyes still on Glo’s.
“Oh no. I’m good with pizza, really.” Going to lunch with Asher’s mom? Nightmare! Waking, living, breathing, walking, talking nightmare. Gloria wasn’t good with moms, as proven by Jordan’s mother last night.
“Don’t be ridiculous. We’ll have something gourmet. With cocktails. I have to fuel up if I expect to get my shopping done,” Elana said. “Ash, that reminds me. The party is Thursday, six sharp. Emily, Jordan, and Hawk will be there. And you all are invited.” She swept a hand around the room to include the band.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Shiff said with a smile.
Tired of being left out, Tank began scratching at Elana’s leg and she bent and picked up the little dog. “Hey, grandpup.”
Elana was having a party and Emily, Jordan, Hawk, and the band were invited. That was…weird.
“Are you buying those little cream puffs? Please say yes.” That from Ricky, who paired his request with folded hands.
“If you’re good.” Elana pointed to let him know she meant it, then handed him Tank and turned to Gloria. “Grab your purse. Let’s go.”
“Mom,” Asher said. He came to Gloria and draped an arm around her. “A minute, guys?”
“Yep,” Shiff answered, taking the pizza boxes—Gloria’s included. Fonz and Broderick, Tank in tow, followed him into the studio.
The second the door shut, Elana told Asher, “You can’t expect her to hang around drinking whiskey and eating pizza while you all practice.”
“I don’t expect her to do anything, but I’m sure her idea of a fun Sunday afternoon isn’t trolling through the market in search of proper party decorations.”
“Sure it is. She’s a girl.” Elana threw a hand at Gloria.
“Mom.”
“Asher.” Her eyebrows lifted, then lowered as she watched her son. And the reason she watched him was because he’d moved his arm down to Gloria’s waist, tucked her in close, and squeezed.
“Go with her.” He lowered his lips to mutter, “You’ll have fun.”
Gloria parted her lips to argue, but he kissed her, keeping her from speaking. He kept his lips locked to hers so long, she had to pull air in through her nose. Even in front of his mother, she couldn’t stop her hand from clenching his T-shirt or her eyes from sliding closed.
Damn him.
When he lifted his head, he was smiling, mischief twinkling in his eyes. “You girls have fun.” He placed a kiss on his mother’s cheek as he passed by. Elana was nearly as tall as her son, even in flats.
“This yours?” Elana picked up a slouchy black purse that was, in fact, Gloria’s. Clearly the decision had been made. Gloria was going shopping with Asher’s mom.
Whether she wanted to or not.
Chapter 18
The last place on the planet Gloria belonged in was a Toys “R” Us. Whenever she’d attended baby showers in the past, she’d strictly been an online shopper. And usually sent a gift card. A store full of children’s toys made her feel as comfortable as she had in seventh-grade softball: not at all.
Elana had mentioned shopping for the party. Why they were picking out board games and stuffed toys was a mystery, until she finally interrupted Elana’s decision over which Lego set to buy him with, “I thought we were buying decorations. Why are we shopping for Hawk?”
Elana paused, Lego boxes in hand, and blinked over at Gloria. Then she smiled. “You know what? I really like you.” She put both boxes in the cart along with several other items she’d picked out for him and started off toward the register. “I haven’t met my grandson yet. I intend to meet him. And I’m not meeting him without making up for all of the birthdays I’ve missed.”
At the counter, Elana unloaded the toys for the teenaged cashier who looked like she’d rather be getting dental work than spending her Sunday here. Gloria didn’t hate being here as much as this girl, so there was that.
“Emily is easier to deal with than Jordan,” Elana said. “Maybe it’s because she relates to me grandma to grandma. Though she seems the type to prefer the term ‘grandmother,’ doesn’t she?”
“I’ve heard her refer to herself as such,” Glo said. “But the only preference of hers I’m sure of is that she does not prefer me at all.”