Everything & More (Book 1 in the E.C.N Series)

Chapter 41-Martha

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY ❤️❤️
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My night with Ryan this weekend was playing in my mind on repeat. How much fun we had laughing, eating, drinking. It truly felt like old times.  I felt as though we were finally finding our rhythm again, I had my friend back. Though, you could say I was shocked to find out just how drunk we had gotten. Considering we woke up half naked in my bed. I knew Lori was going to tease me incessantly about it once she saw me again.

She already had some weird conspiracy theory on Ryan and what she thinks is his secret feelings for me. Yea I didn't forget about that. What made matters worse was what happened before Ryan left. I had been trying to push it out of my mind but every time I would want to reminisce about what a good night I had with Ryan the morning after would be right there waiting.

"You haven't only been desired by one man" He had me closed in against the kitchen counter as he held my chin to look him in the eye. It's not like Ryan hadn't done this before when he was being serious about something but this... was different. He had the same look in his eyes as when we were both frozen when my towel dropped. Though just like that time as quick as it came it was gone. It was like seeing him snap from a trance as he backed up and decided he should be leaving.

I didn't want to make assumptions about how Ryan felt towards me, nor did I want to read into every little thing Ryan has said and done since we came back into each other's lives. For all I knew, it was him taking liberties with harmless flirting since I'm technically separated from Jonathan. Though I wouldn't know what to think since I never really gave much thought to how I felt. To say there wasn't a time where I thought about Ryan in that way would be false but right now I didn't know what to think or feel.

Fuuuuck... I'm spiraling!

My front door opening and closing thankfully ripped me from my mental word vomit. I had completely forgotten that I was squatting in the hallway gathering Christmas decorations from the closet. "Mama! We're home!" When she said 'we' I had assumed Jonathan used his key. Though I couldn't have been more wrong. Turning around I was met with my mother.

What the hell is she doing here? Why does she have Paige?

I hadn't spoken to her since she ambushed me with Jonathan at Thanksgiving. I wasn't mad at him or the fact that he was there. He deserved to spend the holidays with Paige. I was pissed because no one discussed it with me. My mother wasn't bringing him there to spend time with Paige; she was trying to set us up.

I ignored her presence, putting the box I was holding down and opening my arms for a bright smiling Paige to run into, "Mama, I missed you!"

"I missed you too." As I hugged her my gaze was met with Diana just standing there waiting. Suppressing a groan I let go of Paige, "Why don't you get your things settled, there should be clothes on your bed to change into, and come back down stairs and we can start decorating."

"Yay!" Paige immediately raced upstairs. I got up from my squatting position and picked up the box with me, making my way to the living room.

Diana sighed from behind as she followed. We were sitting in each other's presence for about 5 minutes; me sorting decorations, her standing awkwardly by the archway, before she finally said something. "Didn't you mention you wanted to redecorate?"

"Yes, just haven't gotten around to it." I rushed out.

My mother's footsteps were slow and calculated as she walked around the house. I could tell she was just examining. "Hmm, are you trying to do anything before the holidays? Because if not, you already know, mi casa su casa mija."