“Mom, you have a lot going on right now.”
“She’s right, Mom,” Drake agreed.
Gloria could need surgery, and he didn’t want her stressing about something that didn’t matter to him. He knew Love felt the same way.
“Can we table this discussion for after your appointment today?” Love picked up her mother’s hand and kissed it. “I want us to focus on getting your health under control, right, Drake?”
“Exactly,” he agreed. “If you want to help, fry me some chicken for dinner.”
Love glanced over at Drake, who shrugged and ate one of her fries.
Gloria gave them a watery smile, stood and pulled them both into her arms. “I love you, my Lovely. You, too, Drake. You have made me so proud.” She gave them each a kiss on the forehead before pulling back. “We have to go. I want to use the bathroom before my appointment.”
As Gloria walked off ahead of them, Drake and Love followed at a good distance. He leaned into her. “I saw Derrick.”
“You did,” Love said, a sneaky smile on her plump lips. She was so ready to be kissed, and he wanted to push her into one of those little nooks and do it. But he’d promised himself he’d keep his hands to himself at work. It was becoming harder by the minute, though.
“Why was he here?”
She raised a brow. “Are you jealous?”
“Pretty much,” he admitted.
She laughed, and his mouth went dry. “That was honest.”
“I know no other way to be.”
Nodding, she told him about her visit with her dad and the subsequent lunch with Derrick. “It was time to let him know, in no uncertain terms, that we are over.”
Drake couldn’t deny he was glad Love had handled Derrick, even though he still wanted to knock him out.
Love stopped in front of the restroom her mother had entered, and folded her arms over her chest. She grinned up at him, biting her lip. “I like that you’re jealous.”
He couldn’t help it; he reached out and rubbed her bottom lip with his thumb. It took everything in him not to kiss her right then and there, gawkers be damned. “Well, I don’t like when you laugh with other men.”
She gasped. “You’re hilarious. Am I supposed to be serious all the time, Drake?”
“When you’re not with me.”
She shoved him playfully, but he grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him. It was strange being like this with her in the hallway outside the cafeteria. Anybody could see them, but he didn’t care. He imagined how she’d taste right then, could almost hear the breathless way she said his name when she was coming for him.
He leaned in closer, his hands tightening around her waist. His gaze lingered on her mouth, before he pressed his lips against hers. She pulled him against her, taking control of the kiss and prying his lips apart with her tongue. A low moan escaped from his throat. Or was it hers? He honestly didn’t know where he stopped and she began, they were so close.
Someone clearing a throat behind him put a halt to what was sure to escalate. He’d already spotted an empty nook to his left.
Love giggled against his mouth and they slowly backed away from each other. Gloria was standing with a hand on her hip. Around them, a few people clapped, and Drake took a bow.
“I’m going to go,” he said, when the applause died down. He could still taste Love’s lips, and fought back a groan. He hugged Gloria and placed a kiss on her forehead. “Bye, Mom.” Then he turned to her daughter. Brushing her hair back, he whispered, “I’ll see you later, Love.”
She waved at him, and he saluted her, then left.
CHAPTER 14
Love tapped her foot against the tile as she replied to an email. Her mother sat on the exam bed, rambling on about how she was sick of doctors scheduling appointments for a certain time, then not even walking into the room until an hour later.
“Lovely?” she called. “Are you listening to me?”
Love gave her a grin. “I’m sorry, Mother. I had an urgent email. What were you saying?”
“Never mind.” Gloria waved a dismissive hand. “You always do that—tune your poor mother out.”
The fact was—and she was ashamed to admit it—she rarely listened to her mother completely. It was a big problem because her mom had a habit of sneaking things into the conversation when Love wasn’t paying attention.
“Mom, I’m sorry. You have my undivided focus.”
“I’m scared,” Gloria whispered, tears welling in her eyes.
Shocked by the uncharacteristically emotional admission, Love scooted closer to the bed. Throughout her life, she had seen her mother loud, frantic, nosy, sweet, but never scared. She rubbed her knee. “Aw, Mom, it’s going to be okay. No matter what, I’m going to take care of you.”