“You mind if I cut in?” she asked Scottie’s partner.
“Of course, my dear,” Claudette replied, patting Angela’s hand as she shuffled away.
Angela rested her arms behind her son’s neck, leaving him to place both his hands on her hips as she slowly started to move them back and forth in time with the music. In many ways, Scottie felt like he was back at prom, only this time dancing with a chaperone.
“It’s been a crazy year, hasn’t it?” Angela asked looking at her son, eyes shimmering as she marveled at the man who stood before her.
Scottie nodded. “I can’t even begin to tell you how much.”
Angela smiled, adjusting her arms ever so slightly. To Scottie, she felt electric. Something about how she moved in his hands, how her arms draped over his shoulders, sent his pulse racing and his moral compass playing catch-up. His eyes kept traveling over her, devouring her bare neck, her collar, her jawline, and the slight curve of her lips, it was all intoxicating. He smelled the notes of coconut from her skin, and her perfume was floral and sweet, but was that artificial? He never knew her to ever have any bottles so perhaps that was just natural. He knew he shouldn’t, but he inhaled deeply.
She looked up at him as they swayed. “I know we haven’t been as available, and we all seem like there’s always a lot going on… but please know your father and I can see how hard you have been working, and we both are incredibly proud.”
“Thanks, Mom,” he said smiling. His beating heart was melting.
“I just…” she paused. “I hope you are getting time for you in there somewhere. I can’t really recall seeing you do much more this semester than study when all summer you and Hannah were almost inseparable. It was amazing to see you two working so well together when just a few years ago you were at each other’s throats.”
Scottie chuckled. It was true.
“Look,” she said, holding him by the shoulders. “We are impressed with how hard you have thrown yourself into schooling, but please remember you are only young once. Don’t get yourself stuck in a rut where work and school rule your life because you would be surprised what you miss out on and… well sometimes it may take a while for it to come back.”
He nodded though he tried to connect the dots that weren’t quite there yet.
She squeezed his shoulders. “You’re growing into an incredible man. You’re attractive, caring, and…” Angela sighed, “… I’m just worried. I’m being silly right now,” she said, turning and wiping a tear from her eyes, “Okay, jeez Angela, get it together.” She laughed, suddenly appearing self-conscious.
Scottie stopped dancing and reached out and pulled her into a hug. It wasn’t sexual. No ulterior motive, but here was his mother who needed support.
Feeling the warmth and comfort of his embrace, Angela reached her arms around and held him tight, resting her head on his shoulder. Neither said a word, they both closed their eyes and felt the moment. And as the seconds passed, more was indeed felt.
With her body pressed so tightly to his, her soft form nestled so perfectly in his arms, what he had pushed to the back of his mind began to rear its head again, reminding him of his heated state. He felt his senses try to memorize her feel, encode it into his memory. The way her breasts billowed and pushed against his chest. How the curve of her back felt as his hands wrapped beneath her shoulders. Her thighs pressed against his own. And his eyes traveled down her back until he saw the roundness of her backside perfectly filling her dress.