“How odd. He has been different since Mary left. You know, I think he had a crush on that woman. Such a nice woman. An amazing cook. Maybe you should check on him. Take him your amazing lasagna.”
Luna frowned. “Why would I go give him a lasagna? The guy owns a diner. I’m sure he can cook.”
“But he might be lonely, and you and he, you know, he’s a good guy, Luna.”
“Ew, gross, Mom. Seriously? You’re away on a cruise andyou’re trying to set me up with, like, an old dude?”
“Mac is not old, and in case you don’t remember, your father is older than me.”
“So, what’s that got to do with anything?” she asked.
Her mother chuckled, and now Luna had a feeling she was going to wish she had never asked.
“Well, the thing is about older men, they know what they’re doing in the bedroom, and honey, trust me, a woman’s first time does not want to be with a guy her own age. I know from experience. Your father and I—”
Luna cried out. “Ah, Mom, okay, stop it. I know you guys had sex, at least once to, you know, have me. I don’t need to know about your sex life. At all. You guys do not have sex ever.”
“Oh, honey, you’re so sweet, but the key to a happy marriage is to always be there, and of course, having a lot of available surfaces in the house.”
Luna lifted from where she was perched over the kitchen counter. “Mom, I have to go and like sanitize the entire house.”
“Good luck with that.”
She hung up the call and had to wonder what was going on with her mother. Her parents had always had a strong bond. This was new. Her mother giggling like a schoolgirl was so very new, and offering her sexual advice was just gross.
Your mother is having sex and you haven’t.
There was no way she was going to make Mac a lasagna. She was not attracted to him.
You are attracted to Matthew.
And he’s a good kisser.
Just imagine those lips elsewhere.
Luna had come home after that kiss and watched porn. Freaking porn. There was no way the women were into it.
Your first time sucked.
“Ugh, this is insane. I am not thinking about having sexwith my…” There was no way to call him an ex. They weren’t really together long enough to be anything more than, what? Tutor with benefits? Just thinking about it was gross.
She pulled out her cell phone and found the previous messages from Matthew. Luna had intended to never respond to him. They were never going to be a couple. They didn’t need to talk or get to know one another, or have anything to do with each other.
But Matthew had texted, and she found herself responding.
She hovered over the text column.
“This is stupid. Crazy.”
Luna:Do you want to come over?
She pressedsendbefore she talked herself out of this.
“I’m insane. Great, now I’m using different words that mean all the same stupid thing.”
Her phone buzzed.
Matthew:I’ll be there.