The glasses clinked as the ice floated inside, already cracking in the amber alcohol as Evelyn walked back and handed the drink to her son, then took a seat on her lounge, legs crossed.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were trying to get me drunk,” he said as he loosened his collar.
“Just trying to loosen your tongue.”
“Well, I’m sure it’s plenty loose already.”
“Oh, I doubt that, but we can test it if you’d like…” Evelyn said with a smile as she uncrossed her legs.
Aiden felt his face flush again.
“I… ummm,” he stumbled.
“Would you mind if I asked you a question?” she asked, crossing her legs again as if nothing had happened.
“S-sure,” he said.
“It’s quite personal.”
“That’s fine.” His tongue suddenly felt thick.
She took a sip, smiled while basking in the flavor, then swallowed.
“When was the last time you were with a woman?” Her eyes were locked on him, unblinking, reading the slightest of signs.
“Wow, you weren’t kidding.” He tried to control his beating heart thundering away as if warning him of danger. “Before I answer, may I ask what brought that on?”
She studied him again as she sat there, perfect poise, nearly unreadable.
“I suppose that’s fair.” Aiden watched as she slowly swirled her glass. “I read an article earlier this week and it’s been on my mind ever since.”
“An article?”
She nodded.
“About… sex?”
She nodded again.
“Is that… do you normally read articles on that subject?”
“No,” she said. “But I have found myself being drawn to that subject more and more as of late.”
Aiden fidgeted as he searched for the right words.
“Are you okay, Mom?”
“I’m fine. Perhaps a little lonely, or curious. But you still haven’t answered my question.”
“Sure,” Aiden responded. Sighing, he leaned forward and rested his forearms on his knees, setting his half-empty drink on the coffee table before them. “It’s been almost a year.”
“A year?” Evelyn said, raising an eyebrow. “I would have thought that you and Jennifer-“
“Jessica.”
“Right, Jessica. Surely the two of you…”
Aiden shook his head.
“We never really made it that far,” he said.
“And before her?”
He shrugged. “Let’s just say it’s been a while.”
“I see.”
“Why are you so interested in my love life anyway?”
“Can’t a mother want what’s best for her son?”
“Of course you can.”
“Then what’s your concern?”
“For one, between the two of us, I’m more concerned about your dating life.”
“What dating life?” she laughed.
“That’s my concern.” Aiden narrowed his eyes. “Have you…”
“Have I what?”
“… been with a man since…”
“No. Not since your father.”
“Oh,” Aiden said.
Evelyn studied her son for a moment while a deep roll of thunder traveled through the air outside.
“I’d like to ask you another question,” she said.
“Along the same subject?”
“Yes.”
“Go ahead.”
Aiden’s eyes lifted up to his mother’s as he waited for her to speak.
“What do you miss the most about being with a woman?” she asked.
“Who said I missed anything?”
She raised an eyebrow.
“You’re not fooling anyone with that, Mister.”
He chuckled.
“Am I that easy to read?”
“Honey, you are a man. And, you’re my son. I know a thing or two about you.”
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