True Bliss Read Online Free PDF Page B

usually both. When I was thirteen, he died from liver failure. It was quick, it was traumatic, and my mother has never even dated another man since then.
    I've tried to take care of them ever since; being the eldest, and only male in a group of girls, it was something I felt I had to do, so I grew up fast. I still send money to Mom when I have a particularly busy week dancing. Of course, she doesn't know how I make my money; she thinks I work at the bar with Zach. I think she'd be shocked, and maybe a little disappointed with how I make a living, but I do know that she was over the moon when I was accepted into the police academy. She still tells anyone who will listen that I'm training to be a cop. Just being able to make her proud is worth everything to me.
    Zoe knows that I dance. Unfortunate as it was, she happened to arrive late to a gig I'd just finished. Talk about awkward. She screamed when she recognized me, and I got stage fright, literally. I could. not. move. I grabbed her and we left straight afterwards, going to a twenty-four hour diner a few blocks from here to talk it out. She now understands why I strip, and we always make sure I'm not working any gig that she might be invited to.
    “Dani, put Mom on, will ya?”
    “Moooooooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmm!”she yells down the phone.
    “Hello?” my mom says when she reaches the phone.
    “Hey, Mom. Just calling to check in with my favorite girls” 
    “Oh, Zander. You're always thinking of me and your sisters, but you don't need to worry, we're fine. Work is going well, the new house is perfect, and Mia and Danika are fitting in well at school.”
    “And Zoe?”
    “Well, you know Zoe, one bad boy after another. She's currently dating a tattoo artist from Brownsburg. I wish she'd find a nice boy for once, someone more like you, but she'll learn one day. And what about you, my boy? How's training going?” she asks.
    “I'm good. Training is good. The physical side of it is okay, I'm fine with that, but it's all the stuff I have to learn and remember that is hard. Couldn't ask for a better job though.”
    “Glad to hear that, Zan. And what about dating? Have you met a nice girl yet? Maybe a country girl who'll cook good meals and look after you. You deserve to be looked after, Zander.”
    “You know I don't have time to date, Mom, but there is one girl that I want to get to know better. She intrigues me and I can't seem to get her out of my head.”
    “Well, that just means that there might be something there. You need to talk to her.”
    “She's kind of avoiding me. She's embarrassed about something that happened between us even though she shouldn't be.”
    “You need to talk to her. Tell her not to be embarrassed, then you need to woo her, Zander. If you like her, you need to woo. Women like to be listened to, you know that from living with me and your three sisters, so you listen, you ask questions, and you woo. Understand, son?”
    How do mothers always know the right answer to any of life's questions? I remember asking her once, 'how do you know that, Mommy?' and without missing a beat, she turned to me and said, “It's because I passed the mommy test.”
    I smile. “Yes, Mom. I might try that out.” I hear the dryer beep. “Okay, Mom, I have to get going. I'll ring you next week, alright?”
    “Of course, son. Love you. And remember to ask, listen, then woo.”
    “Yes, Mom. Love you too. Bye.”
    Ask, listen, woo.
    My new plan:
    1) Get Kate to open up.
    2) Let her get to know me.
    3) Reveal my identity when I'm sure she's comfortable around me. Then she might want to meet with me in person.
    Sounds logical to me.
     

 

    KATE
    After going to the bar for a quick bite to eat with Mac and Daniel and my workmate Nathan-my gay boyfriend for all intents and purposes-we return to our place and watch a DVD of some action movie that Daniel chose.
    I'm sitting on the opposite couch with a half-filled glass of wine and the laptop on my lap, scrolling