Free Kindle Alexander - Up In Arms by Kindle Alexander

My mother considers you one of her own already.”
“Your parents have been very good to me. Your mom sends birthday and Christmas gifts every year. I try to do the same for her, and on Mother’s Day. She’s the best. She met my mom one time briefly at graduation, right before she died. Your mom and dad even came to the funeral. They flew out since Rylie couldn’t be there. My mom was sick for a long time. Breast cancer. She fought a hell of a battle, but she couldn’t shake it. I’m happy she’s not in all that pain anymore. Your mom helped me see that too.”
“Yeah, my mom’s incredible. I’m lucky to have her. I’m glad you have her too. What happened to your dad?”
“Dad died in the line of duty. He left the military and became a police officer. Six months later, he was shot serving a warrant. I was about a month old.”
“You don’t have any brothers or sisters?” Reed asked, looking up at Trevor while seasoning the steaks.
“No, Mom never remarried. It was just me and her. She was a good woman, a great mom.” Trevor continued dicing, his body finally settling down enough he could move around a little more freely, and actually make brief eye contact as they spoke.
“Your mother had an amazing son. I’m sure she was very proud. I’m going to get these started outside. Come out when you’re done,” Reed said, balancing the steaks in one hand, and his wine glass in the other. Trevor waited awhile, letting his body completely relax before manning up and following along.
“The night’s perfect,” Trevor said as he opened the door and stepped outside. Despite his more relaxed state, he still stayed many feet from Reed.
“It is. How do you like your steak?” Reed asked from the front of the grill. “Wait, let me guess. I bet you’re a medium type of guy.”
“That’s right. How do you like yours?”
“I’m a medium type of guy myself. Have a seat, or take a look around. I’ve been working on the spring garden over in the far corner of the yard. It won’t be much longer before these are ready,” Reed said, carefully turning the steaks over.
A small breeze blew across the back yard. Trevor decided to take that tour around the yard as opposed to sitting and staring at Reed. Walking the length of the deck, Trevor finally brought the glass of wine to his lips. With the smallest of sips, Trevor carefully swallowed, relieved the wine stayed down.
He walked alongside the swimming pool, then out into the yard. The night was dark, and the moon peeked from behind a cloud, lighting the yard just enough for Trevor to notice exactly how well manicured Reed kept everything. Trevor used this time to think back over the events of this evening up until now. He assessed his current position as somewhere between awkward and bumbling idiot. Trevor seriously needed to spend more time with people in the future, because after tonight, he saw himself clearly as social imbecile.
Heading back up on the deck, Trevor saw the smallest of blooms just starting in a flower bed along the deck. He loved flowers. He loved the process of growing flowers. Bending at the knee, he looked over the new blooms, still contemplating the evening. After this first hour, surely Reed would see a friendship with him didn’t fit in his world. He figured Reed would probably take him back to Rylie’s apartment immediately following their dinner. Reed was too nice of a guy to ditch this meal he’d already started and take him back now, like he surely must want to do. Besides, Trevor did have the pity card going in his favor. They talked about his mom and dad. Guilt, if nothing more, would force Reed to keep him here through the entire meal.
Rising, he started to move away from the flowers, and took another small sip as a new thought occurred. Maybe this whole night was at Rylie’s mom request. It was the one idea that made the most sense, and it surprised him that he hadn’t thought of it sooner. What would Reed go back and tell his mother