Page 63 of Heal Me, Love Me

“You joke, but I would absolutely buy one for you to wear.”

I laughed and took a quick swig of his beer.

“Pretty sure that’s illegal.”

“You’re drinking for free, so I don’t think you can really complain.”

As the night went on, customers came and went. Then out of nowhere, I heard a familiar laugh.

Rowan must’ve noticed the panic on my face because he asked, “What’s wrong?”

I jerked my head toward the entrance where my mom had just walked in with a man I didn’t recognize at her side. Aunt Carla trailed behind them, carrying shopping bags.

Rowan twisted in his seat. “Guess she didn’t want to wait for you to call her back. Who’s that guy with her?”

I shrugged. “No idea.”

“Keaton!” Mom waved the second she spotted me behind the bar.

Every part of me wanted to disappear into the stockroom. Instead, I forced a smile. “Hey, Mom.”

They reached the bar a second later, and Aunt Carla gave me a distracted hello while typing something on her phone. “Look at you.” Mom beamed, but there was a hint of judgment in her eyes. “This is definitely a step up from Sal’s Pizza.”

“Gee, thanks.”

She laughed as if I’d said something funny, then motioned toward the man beside her. “This is Dave.”

He immediately stuck out his hand and shook mine. “Nice to meet you.” He glanced around the bar. “So is this your full-time gig?”

The question came across as condescending as hell, and it showed that my mother likely hadn’t told him a thing about me before introducing us.

“Nah.” I tossed the towel over my shoulder. “I fight too.”

He blinked. “Like professionally?”

“Yep.”

“Huh.” He looked at my mother. “You never mentioned that.”

She waved a dismissive hand through the air. “I just knew he worked at this bar. He never told me about fighting.”

I almost laughed at that. Of course, I hadn’t told her. Since she moved away, she’d never made an effort to ask me about what was going on in my life. She had no idea I spent most ofmy days training, no clue I’d signed with Elevate, and probably couldn’t answer a single question about me.

“Bartending pays the bills,” I said evenly. “Fighting’s my career.”

Mom shrugged, then looked at Rowan, and her brows drew together. “Wait. I know you.”

Rowan nodded. “I’m Rowan Cross.”

Recognition seemed to click instantly. “From next door.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“He’s my boyfriend,” I announced, not wanting to reduce him to someone from our past.

My mother blinked. “Oh.” That was it. One word, no shock, no questions. Without further comment, she moved on to the reason for her visit. “Well, you’re not the only one who found someone.” She held up her left hand, and a diamond ring glittered under the bar lights. “Dave and I are engaged.”

“Wow.” The word came out flat, but I couldn’t fake being happy for someone who didn’t even try to act like a mom to me. “When did that happen?”