Teasing Phoenix novel Chapter 19

“Mom!” I stride all the way to the table where mom is sitting as soon as she comes to view.

She smiles and meets me halfway. “Phoenix! You are so rude by leaving your girlfriend alone just to give me a hug.” Then she walks toward Samantha who’s shyly sauntering to us.

Mom doesn’t need an introduction. She launches into Samantha and squeezes her into a hug. “Good to finally meet you, Samantha. I heard a lot about you already. Does my son treat you well? Or should I teach him some lessons because I can still spank his butt,” Mom jokes while Samantha hasn’t found a word to say, but I can see the amazement in her eyes.

She clears her throat, “Pleasure is mine, Mrs. Williams. Your son just treats me alright if I won’t count him being persistent and cocky. Otherwise, I can’t complain. Thanks for having me for your family lunch!”

“Now you can finally talk, Samantha? Thought you lost your voice,” I tease her.

“Leave Samantha alone, Phoenix. She’s mine at this time. You had enough of her last night,” Mom says.

A flush creeps across Samantha’s face.

“Mom is right, brother. You left us so early last night.” Hawk marches with Izzy to our table.

“She was drunk, and you have no idea what she’s capable of doing when she gets drunk,” I respond.

“Do tell me, Phoenix. What is she going to do if she gets drunk?” Hawk waggles his eyebrows.

I roll my eyes. “I’m not telling you, asswipe.”

“I called him hot tease when I was drunk,” Samantha says shyly.

“And was he, Sam?” my brother asks.

“Not much.” She looks at me while wrinkling her nose.

“Oh, dear,” Mom says, amused.

“Ouch, brother.” Hawk fakes his flinch.

“Tell me about your family, honey,” Mom asks her, and I forgot to tell them about Samantha’s father. The last thing I want is to make her feel uncomfortable.

“My mom works as a nurse, and my dad was working as a bank clerk at the local bank in town before he passed away,” she says casually.

“Sweetheart, I’m so sorry. I have no idea,” Mom apologizes and squeezes her hand.

“It’s okay, Mrs. Williams. That was six years ago. He died in a car accident. A witness said that his car hit a tree when he tried avoiding a man crossing the street,” Samantha replies.

My body turns into a stone-cold, and I think I gasp while my mind is completely blank. My heart stops beating, then pounds wildly in my chest. I even forget how to breathe while I am staring at her with wide eyes.

“Oh, dear. I’m sorry, Sam. You’re probably aware of what happened to their dad, aren’t you?” Mom says sympathetically.

“I’m sorry for your loss too, Mrs. Williams.” She squeezes mom’s hand back.

“I considered him dead the moment I left that place. We never talked again. We only reached out through our lawyers even until our divorce has been finalized,” Mom answers truthfully.

My heart breaks for Mom, but she seems happier than before.

“I was even surprised he did not remarry when all I heard was he has mistresses everywhere. Let’s not talk about those tragic memories, dear,” Mom finishes, and My girlfriend nods and smiles at Mom.

Hawk is stealing glances at me a few times, but I don’t mind him as I feel my throat is clogging with a shocking revelation of Samantha’s father’s tragic death.

I grab a glass of cold water with my sweaty hand and take a gulp. I blink and startle at the hand squeezing my thigh.

“You okay, Phoenix?” Samantha’s worried voice makes me swallow hard.

Nodding, I smile tightly. “Yeah, I’m okay.” My voice came out shaky and low.

“How did you two meet?” Izzy asks suddenly, breaking the tension inside me.

“I’ll tell you, honey,” Hawk cuts her off. “They met in a parking lot.”

“What?” Hawk asks when he sees me rolling my eyes.

“That’s right, we met in a parking lot, then after a few days I met him again only to find out he is the boss of my boss,” Samantha answers proudly.

“And you burned me with coffee.”

They gasp in unison.

“Oh, it wasn’t that hot!” Sam says amicably, gripping my arm.

“Maybe because I’m way too hotter than that coffee.”

They laugh in unison while Sam shakes to control herself from laughing loudly.

“Wait. You work with Phoenix?’ Izzy asks her.

“I waitress as a part-time in his coffee shop, but I don’t know he’s the new owner before I met him,” She explains, making Izzy giggles, and Mom’s smile is so delightful.

I can’t help but smile as I recall that incident.

“Oh, my God! That’s so romantic,” Izzy says with dreamy eyes while her husband is snorting.

“Come on, Hawk. That’s romantic than how we met.” She hits her husband’s arm playfully.

“Ours was way more romantic than them,” Hawk banters back.

Izzy rolls her eyes, “Where is the romantic there when you set everything up? It wasn’t real.”

“Don’t tell me you don’t like it, honey, because you wouldn’t be my wife if you didn’t fall for it.”

Our eyes are all focused on both of them.

“But that was cliché though.”

Samantha looks so amused at them bantering together.

She looks so gorgeous—her smile widens and eyes are twinkling.

My heart flutters the longer I stare at her. I know that now that I’m so badly falling hard for her.

“But you love me, Izzy.” Hawk pouted his lips.

“More than anything, my love.” Izzy pecks her husband’s lips.

Samantha giggles with Mom.

I groan causing Hawk to grin like an idiot.

“What, brother? Jealous much?”

“I’m not anymore, you, whipped!”

Suddenly, I feel something unsettled in the pit of my stomach. I excuse myself from them and kiss Samantha’s head.

I wash my face with cold water, then squeeze my eyes shut, and blow a huge breath. I startle when I see Hawk’s image appears in the mirror. I don’t know how he gets in here, but I know he wants to ask me something.

“What was that all about, brother?”

My brows furrow. “What are you talking about?”

“Do you think I did not notice your reaction?”

“And what was my reaction?”

“I’ve known you well if something is bothering you, brother. So, tell me now because you knew me that I’m not going to let it go.” He crosses his arms over his chest, waiting for my answer.

“There is nothing to talk about, Hawk. Just drop it already, and you know me that I never kept secrets from you.”

“I won’t drop it when it concerns you, Phoenix. I’m affected as you are when there is something bothering in that brain of yours.”

I take a huge breath and face him. “We will talk about it, but not here in this restroom and definitely not in front of them.”

I give up because I know he won’t stop, and I still have to tell him because it’s been bothering me for a while now.

Hawk has been there for me since I can remember, and he is not just my brother, but he is also my best friend.

“You’re lucky that she likes you a lot, Phoenix. Don’t you ever hurt her because someone like Sam will only come to your life once, so take the opportunity to prove what you really feel inside.” Hawk points to my chest.

“I know, Hawk, and you have no idea how much she means so much to me.” He gives me a bear hug and pats my back. “Welcome to the club!”

I furrow my brows. “I’m not married yet, pussy-whipped!”

“I know, and that’s our club!” he guffaws.

“What?”

He laughs again, and I can’t help but join him.

“Welcome to the pussy-whipped club, asshole!”