Newly Exposed (13 page)

“Aunt Sarah told me you have a headache today. I’m sorry. I wish I could do something to make you feel better.”

My mom pressed her hand against my cheek and said, “You being here is helping.” Slowly, she shifted in her bed so she was sitting a little taller and turned to her side so her head still rested on her pillow, but she was now facing me.
 

“Aunt Sarah told me you have a new job.”

I cringed, wondering what my mom was going to think about my new job, especially after she didn’t like the fact that I dropped out of school.
 

“The look on your face tells me I might not like it. Please don’t tell me you’re selling drugs.”

“What? No,” I laughed, at the serious tone my mom used. “Mom, Dad would rise from his grave just to beat my sorry ass if I was selling drugs.”

She chuckled and said, “That’s true. So, what is it?”

I took a deep breath and said, “I kind of got a job as a fitness model.”

My mom looked at me to see if I was serious, so I just nodded. Her hand went to her mouth and she laughed as her slight shoulders shook.
 

“Oh, Adam, are we really in that much need of money?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” I admitted while chuckling with her.

“Well, you have the body for it. You’re such a handsome boy,” she complimented with a grin.

“Thanks, Mom.”

“Don’t let the attention go to your head.” She tapped my temple.
 

“So, you approve?” I asked, confused by my mom’s lightheartedness.
 

“Honey, as long as you’re not selling drugs or fornicating with women for money, I will support you in whatever endeavor you want to pursue. Plus, it seems kind of fun; I just never pictured my son being a fitness model.”

I sat back in my chair and tried to get over the baffled look I was giving her. “Wow, I wasn’t expecting that. You were so mad that I dropped out of college that I thought…”

My mom put her hand up to interrupt me. “I wasn’t mad at you, Adam. I knew you had no choice…we had no choice. I was mad at the hand we drew. It’s not fair, but don’t for one second think I was mad at you. I could not be more proud of the man you’ve become, putting your family first and watching over your Aunt Sarah and me.” A tear trickled down her face that I quickly wiped away for her. “I’m so grateful for you, Adam.”

I leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Thank you, Mom.”

I pulled away and she quickly wiped away her tears. “Enough of this sappy stuff, tell me about the job. Meet anyone new?”

A smile lit up my face as I thought about Solo. “I actually have.”

My mom pressed my dimple with her finger, something she often did when I smiled, and said, “Tell me about her.”

“How do you know it’s a her?” I asked.
 

“You don’t smile like that about guys,” she joked.
 

“Well, you’re right. Her name is Solo.”

“As in…”

“Yes, Mom,” I put my head down.
 

“Oh, Adam…”

“I know, Mom, she loves
Star Wars
.”

My mom laughed as she gripped my hand. “You would find a girl who’s named after your first hero, Han Solo.” She laughed again. “I still can see you running around the house with Flufferbee, acting out scenes from those space movies.”

“Mom,” I paused. “They’re not just space movies, God, and you have to admit, Flufferbee was the perfect Chewbacca.”

“That poor dog,” my mom shook her head in memory. “Tell me about her, besides the fact that she is named after your idol, which…does she know that?”

“Not yet, I didn’t want to terrify her with my love for the man, even though her dads are obsessed with him.”

“Dads? Well, isn’t that modern?”

“God, only an old person like you would call being gay, modern,” I laughed.
 

She pointed her finger at me and said, “Just because I’m in this hospital bed doesn’t mean I can’t whoop your butt, mister.”

I held up my hands in defense and backed away. “Yes, ma’am.”

“So, what does she look like?”

“I actually have a picture.” I pulled out my phone and showed the picture that I took earlier of Solo and me in the bathroom. I had to hand my mom her glasses for her to take a better look, but when she saw what was going on between us, she eyed me over her glasses with that judging mom look.
 

“That’s a compromising position, Adam.”

“Oh, come on, Mom, nothing is happening. She’s just showing me how to take a selfie.”

My mom handed me back my phone and said, “I will never understand your generation, but I have to admit, she’s very beautiful, Adam.”

“I know,” I said, looking at the picture. She was looking up at me when I took the picture and the look I captured in her face made my heart beat faster. She was looking up at me with admiration. The picture gave me hope of a possible future for us.
 

“So, her name is Solo, and she’s obviously beautiful and likes
Star Wars
. What else?”

I sat back in my chair and stared off as I thought about Solo. “She’s funny, Mom, and doesn’t mind embarrassing herself. She’s sweet and kind, but can hold her own against anyone. She’s not afraid to show her true colors and she’s honest. Plus, she wears things like Ninja Turtle pajama pants and shirts with the Fresh Prince on them. I mean, there is no way of getting over that. She’s…perfect.”

Patting my knee, my mom said, “It seems like you found your true match, so why does it seem like you’re only friends?”

“Because we are,” I admitted. “Apparently, she doesn’t date models, especially Teeg Models, which is who we both work for. Thinking back, I think she was actually sad that I got the job. I know she’s interested in me, Mom. I just don’t know how to break down that wall she’s put up around her heart.”

“Well, if anyone can do it, you can,” my mom said, squeezing my hand and yawning.
 

“I’m sorry, you must be tired, and here I am talking to you about girl problems.”

“Oh, hush, I’m over the moon that you stopped by. I love hearing about what’s going on outside these sterile white walls.” Yawning again, my mom finished and asked, “Do you think you could bring Solo around here sometime? I would love to meet her.”

The thought of bringing Solo into this side of my life was too much for me to handle right now. I preferred to keep my lives separate. Mixing the two seemed too complicated at the moment. I needed to compartmentalize my life for my own sanity.
 

“Not now, but maybe some other time, Mom.”

“You better; I would love to meet this girl who has stolen my little boy’s smile away from me.”

“You know my smile will forever belong to you, Mom.”

“I don’t mind handing if off, as long as it’s to the right person,” she smiled and then closed her eyes. “I’m going to shut my eyes for now, but will you stay and hold my hand for a little while?”

“Of course, Mom.”

As I sat and watched my mom slip into a deep sleep, I thought about how I would love to introduce Solo to my mom one day; I just hoped it wasn’t in a hospital room and rather at a backyard barbeque where my mom was healthy, filled out her clothes, and was able to enjoy the sunshine that only a warm California day could deliver.
 

From the moment I met Solo, I knew she would get along gloriously with my mom, no doubt. I just hoped and prayed that they would be able to meet one day, not only because I wanted my mom healthy, but because I wanted Solo, I needed her.
 

Chapter Twelve

Solo

“No, I won’t be home tonight. Blaze is taking me out,” Nolly squealed into the phone.
 

“Alright, well then, I won’t make the lasagna I planned on making now.”

“Oh, don’t get all butt hurt about it. It’s not like you’re making the damn thing from scratch. Your best meals are popped out of a cardboard box and heated up in the oven.”

“But no one heats them up like I do,” I laughed.
 

“You got that right, girl. Alright, I have to finish trying on these dresses for tonight. Don’t expect me to come home.”

“Be careful,” I warned.
 

“Always, sweet cheeks.”

I hung up the phone and shook my head. I was shocked when Nolly said Blaze was taking her out on a date. I, for sure, thought they were just going to be fuck buddies, so to hear that they were going out on an actual date was a surprise.
 

“Did I miss it?” came Adam’s voice from behind me.
 

I sighed at hearing that delicious voice and turned around. My heart seized in my chest as I took him in. He was wearing a pair of khaki cargo shorts, flip flops, and a navy blue polo that hugged his body in every last crevice he had to offer. He had changed from this morning, and he looked delicious, but what was really setting me into hot guy seizure mode was the way his hair flipped out from under the red hat he was wearing backwards, and his bright smile, which was graced with a sexy five o’clock shadow.
 

Be still my heart; he’s so damn hot.
 

“Nope, we’re the first ones here,” I said, while trying to calm my hammering heart.
 

“Awesome,” he sat down next to me on the couch and put his arms on the back while folding one leg over the other. “Do you have dinner plans?” he asked casually.
 

“I do, actually…”

“Liar,” he cut me off. “I heard you talking; lasagna has been put on hold.”

“Do you always listen to other people’s conversations?”

“When it benefits me, yes. So, how about some tacos? Scout and I are going out after this meeting, and I would love for you to come.”

“Just Scout?” I asked hesitantly. I liked Scout. It was really Ty and Gunner that I couldn’t take. The others were alright. I didn’t talk to Nikko much, and Levi, well, he was all about business, so it was hard to get to know him.
 

“Yes, just Scout.”

“I don’t know…”

“You’re going,” Adam decided for me.
 

“Can I go home and change beforehand? I feel gross after rubbing oil over models all day.”

Adam sat up and said, “You were rubbing oil all over guys today?”

I smiled at the jealousy that was sprouting from his eyes.
 

“No, I rubbed oil over girl models today.”

“Damn, that’s hot.”

“Ugh, pig.”

Adam gripped my thigh and said, “You can’t possibly mean that.”

“Get out of here,” I laughed, just as Zia and Bruce walked in. Adam and I stood up at the same time and greeted them.
 

“Solo, thank you for being here,” Zia addressed me, “and Bruce, this is our newest model, Aiden.”

“It’s Adam, actually,” Adam corrected Zia, who didn’t seem too pleased. “Well, Axel, if you’re using my model name.”

Zia laughed and looked over at Bruce, who was a big guy with a tattooed face; he was damn near intimidating. Good luck, Adam. “You can’t ever get them right; they’re so disposable, you know?”

Bruce laughed along with her and then looked Adam up and down.
 

“Is he a virgin?”

“What? No!” Adam said defensively.
 

“A tattoo virgin,” I pulled on Adam’s shirt to clue him in.
 

“Oh, then yes,” his face reddened from embarrassment.

“Don’t worry; we all know you have sex. No need to get all huffy about it,” Zia said, as she walked over to a table.
 

Adam tensed at Zia’s bitchy side and while we walked over to the table, I pulled on his hand and smiled up at him to ease his tension. I didn’t know why he needed money, but after seeing him receive his bonus, I knew he needed this job, so I planned on helping him keep it by calming the rage boiling inside of him from Zia’s bitchiness. She really wasn’t that bad; you just had to be accepted into her inner circle first.
Mean Girls
bullshit, but that was how she worked. She’s been screwed before, so she only lets people in who she trusts.
 

Once we were all seated and water bottles were handed out, Bruce pulled out a drawing book and said, “So, what do you want to see painted on this guy?”

“I was thinking some kind of bare-chested woman, on the side of his arm,” Zia said, motioning down her arm.
 

Bare chested woman? Who got tattoos like that?

“Maybe give her an alien feel,” Zia added.
 

“Oh, fuck no,” Adam spouted out. I gripped his thigh in warning.

“Do you have something better in mind, Mr. Eloquent?” Zia asked, sneering at him.

“I do,” Adam said, as he pulled out a piece of paper and unfolded it. “I really liked the tribal work you guys had on my Facebook cover photo, so I’d like that to be incorporated with this…that’s if I have to get a tattoo.”