Leo

I'm hanging out with Kolby tonight. He's just gotten back from a week-long camping-slash-hiking trip with his buddies.

"You should come along next time," he says as he chucks the ball for Buddy. I watch as the golden retriever bolts after the ball, splashing through the dark blue waters of Lost Lake. I rub my chin in puzzlement. I could have sworn there was a sign that said no dogs were allowed on this beach, but the idea of breaking a rule doesn't scare me as much as it used to. After being arrested and finding out that James, my mom's ex-fiancé, was the conservation officer that caught me, it's going to take a lot to shake me up.

Her ex-fiancé that she's meeting for dinner tonight.

"Nah," I reply, waving off his offer. My voice is almost as distant as my mind. I can't stop thinking about James and my mom. As much as I want my mom to be happy, I don't know how I feel about them potentially getting back together. Sure, they had feelings for each other all those years ago, but it's just...I don't know...Strange. "I'm not much of a hiker."

It's a bold lie, considering how much I love hiking and how much I've been doing since I arrived. But with the end of summer creeping closer, as each second passes, I know I don't have much time left with Aria. I don't have much time left to complete the bucket list. It's passing by too quickly and I wish I could freeze it or at least prolong the season. Despite how much I want to get to Halifax and play golf as my dad did, the ties to Whistler are becoming stronger and stronger. It's going to be difficult for me to leave this place.

Kolby laughs, running his hand through his chest-length beard. I touch my own face, cringing at the sight. I hope Aria never expects me to grow something like that. He claps me on the back. "That is such bullshit, man. I know you've been conquering the mountains with Aria Madden." He nudges me in the arm with his elbow. "A little bird told me the two of you were caught on private property."

"Technically," I say, staring out at the midnight-blue coloured sky, fringed with subtle shades of orange and pink. "I was the only one that was caught. By my mom's ex-fiancé, I might add. How did you even know Aria and I had been sneaking around?"

Instantly, I regret the words I've said. First of all, it implies that I took the fall for Aria and I's mistake. Which is something I actually did. That aside, nobody else needed to know about it. Secondly, it opens up a whole new field of questions for Kolby to ask. Despite the fact that we hang out whenever we get the chance, I've kept my ties to this town in the down-low.

Kolby gives me a look of shock as Buddy drops the ball at his feet. "Ex-finacé? James is your mother's ex-fiancé?"

"How do you know James?" I frown.

"I talk to him all the time," Kolby elaborates with a lazy shrug. He leans down to pick up the ball. It's sopping wet, causing water to slide down his wrist and drip from his elbow. "He's one of the best-known conservation officers in Whistler; he can always tell you which trails have seen the most active wildlife or which ones have been kept well-groomed. If you have any questions, he's the man."

I cross my arms, rolling my eyes in a dramatic fashion. "Of course he is."

Kolby eyes me suspiciously but doesn't edge me on about my inherent connection to James. Instead, he chucks the ball. "I had to return the mountain bike I rented, and I heard Aria mention something about you taking the fall yesterday afternoon. She was talking to that sexy redhead, Scarlett." He pauses, a small frown on his lips. "Do you know if she's single?"

I shake my head, even though I know Scarlett is, in fact, single. It's not my place to tell Kolby what her relationship status is. If he wants to know, he can bloody well ask her. Besides, I'm also feeling a little touchy today. I'm not sure why I'm so upset with my mom spending the evening with James. I want her to be happy. That's all I've ever wanted for her. But seeing her and James interact at the office is something I can't seem to shake from my head. The whole thing just seems...off. The wedding was called off for a reason and it's been years since they last saw each other.

"Dude," Kolby says, turning to face me. "What the hell is wrong with you tonight?"

I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. I'm being, as Aria would probably say, a cynical asshole; taking my frustrations out on someone else when they don't deserve it. "My mom went out for dinner with James," I admit. "And I'm not particularly a fan of it, okay? I know I'm being selfish by letting my own feelings get in the way of my mom's happiness, but I don't like James."

"Do you think you're being a little biased? That maybe your view of him is primarily affected by that of your father's?" he asks.

I can't prevent my nose from wrinkling with distaste. I kick a small pebble into the lake before us, noting how the temperature has dropped a little. While the summer breeze is still warm, I could go for a sweater at the moment. "When did you become a psychologist?"

Kolby throws his head back and laughs, clapping me on the back. "Not a psychologist, just observant. Listen, if you're not sure about this, maybe just talk to your mom. You always tell me how close you and your mom are. If something's bothering you, tell her."

I stare out at Lost Lake, gnawing on my bottom lip. While Kolby is right and while I do feel comfortable talking to Mom about this, what I feel guilty and embarrassed about is my selfishness. I hate how my mind keeps trying to come up with ways to justify it, too.

I sigh, removing my ball-cap and running a hand through my hair. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Sorry."

Kolby shrugs. "It's no big deal. You overthink things sometimes, kid. There's nothing wrong with that. Just don't let it cloud your judgement on what's right and wrong. I'm sure your mom will understand where you're coming from when you talk to her." He pauses, stooping down to pick up the ball and throw it again. "So," he continues. "You and Aria have been getting close."

I keep my gaze locked on the sandy shore, the line where shore meets lake, and contemplate whether or not I should tell Kolby about my relationship. He's a little more — okay, a lot more in tune with modern technology, but he's not the type to blab. Besides, it would be nice to have someone to talk to about this. I clear my throat, readjusting my ball-cap. "We're, uh, dating."

Kolby freezes. Turns around to gape at me. "Excuse me, mate?"

I shrug, feeling sheepish. "We're dating."

"And why didn't you tell me this?"

"First of all," I say. "You're like a grasshopper -- no one knows where you're going next or at what point you're going. Secondly, Aria's name is well-known and I needed to be sure that you wouldn't lose your shit and blab to other people."

"Fair enough," he sighs. "So, what was it like?"

"What was what like?" I frown.

"Mate," he laughs, grabbing the ball and throwing it. Buddy books after the ball, water splashing up all around him. "It's obvious you fucked her. You get fidgety when you lie or have something on your mind. Besides, Aria was talking about you when I walked into the store. It doesn't take much to put two and two together."

Damn it.

"We did," I admit. "But you can't tell anyone that Aria and I are dating, Kolby. We're trying to keep this on the down-low for as long as we can."

"Noted," he replies. "So what was it like?"

I wrinkle my nose. "Why do you want to know?"

He shrugs. "To fuel my masculinity, perhaps?"

"How the hell does me telling you about my sex life fuel your masculinity?"

Kolby squints off into the distance, despite the fact the sun has set and it continues to grow darker as we stand beside Lost Lake. "Not sure," he replies.

I roll my eyes. I know it's basically tradition for men to get together and discuss how their sex life is or what their significant other does well in bed, but I find it disrespectful to the relationship. What happens behind closed doors is nobody else's business but the couple's. Besides, I don't want to make it seem like I'm bragging about Aria and her skills in bed. She's so much more than that. From her ability to take control to her spitfire attitude, Aria is everything.

"I'm not getting into it," I reply, crossing my arms and giving him a rebellious look. "What Aria and I did is private, and I don't plan on labelling her as some prize possession."

Kolby raises his hands, palms facing me. "Okay, okay, simmer down, mate. I was just wondering. There's nothing wrong with wondering."

"Yeah," I mutter in indifference. "But there is something wrong with the way we talk about women."

I can feel Kolby's eyes on me as I inspect the shadows of the snow-capped mountains surrounding us, but I don't let it bother me. It's typical to receive strange stares from other men when the subject of women and the way they're treated pops up. I'm always quick to defend them and avoid justifying a decision a man has made. Some people have even had the guts to tell me it's strange. I ignore it. After being raised by my mom and having Aunty Tenille to support both of us, I've grown to respect women the way they should be respected — and I'm not ashamed of it. No man should be.

Eventually, Kolby breaks the silence with a sigh, kneeling down to scratch a panting Buddy's chin. "I get it, Leo," he says. "I know it's not an excuse, but it's difficult nowadays to clarify what's right and what's wrong — and not just in regards to women. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked."

"Apology accepted," I reply in an affirmative tone. "Well...I think I need to get going now. Mom's probably back from her night out by now. Give me a call next time you're free, okay? Maybe we can set something up with you, me, Aria, and Scarlett."

Kolby's head snaps up, his eyes glazed with fascination and awe. "Sure, mate. That'd be great. I'll let you know."

"Awesome," I say. "I'll see you later, man."

We say our final goodbyes and then I'm on my way down the well-compacted trail, heading back to my truck. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm not looking forward to hearing about how Mom's night out with James went. I'm worried she's going to rave about him, tell me how they instantly rekindled their relationship and have already set up another date. It' wrong of me to go against my mom's happiness, but all I can think about is Dad. About how unfair the world was for taking him away from my mom.

As much as I want my mom to be happy, I just wish she could be happy with the man who won her heart.

*  *  *

When I arrive home, Mom is in the kitchen, picking at a cardboard takeout box of leftovers. From the authentic scent of curry and garlic, I believe her and James went out to some Indian cuisine restaurant.

I toss the keys on the island and plant a quick kiss on Mom's cheek before I grab a glass from the cupboard. "How was dinner?" I ask, trying to keep my voice light and breezy.

Mom stays silent, causing worry to stir within me. When my glass is full of water, I shut the tap off and walk over to her, taking my place beside her. "Mom?" I ask. "Is everything okay?"

She blinks and stops poking at her leftovers. "What was that, honey?"

I cock an eyebrow. Now, instead of dreading this conversation, I'm beginning to wonder what went on. Either it was an awful dinner and she can't stop questioning why she agreed to go out, or it was amazing and she's fallen in love with him again. I hope it's the first one — shamefully. "I asked if everything is okay."

"Oh," she replies softly. "Yes, everything is okay, Leo. I'm just..."

She trails off and focuses her attention on her food again, stirring the curried rice back and forth.

I rest a hand on Mom's shoulder. I haven't seen her this out-of-thought for years, and it's worrying me a little. "Mom, you can tell me anything."

She glances up at me. For the first time in my life, I honestly can't decipher the emotions in her eyes at this given moment. While she looks vaguely confused, she also seems sad and bittersweet. Maybe even slightly happy. Which is why the next words tumble out of my mouth before I can stop them.

"Are you going to date James?"

I slap a hand over my mouth, mentally scolding myself for blurting out one of my many burning questions. I know my mom — a lot of her decisions have been based on my perspective and how they'll benefit me. I don't want that to come into play in this situation, but my lack of filter has botched that option for sure.

Mom frowns slightly. "What do you mean?"

I rub the back of my neck. "I mean, uh..." I sigh. "I don't know, Mom. I don't know how I feel about you and James. It's kind of, uh, strange, don't you think? Potentially getting back together with him after everything that's happened."

Mom stares at me as if I've gone insane. "Leo," she says, the left corner of her mouth curving upward. "Why would I ever get back together with James?"

Relief and surprise was over me at the same time. "You don't want to date him?"

Mom shakes her head. "I'm glad we can be civil and friendly and play catch-up, but no. I much prefer being alone in the romance perspective. It does get lonely from time to time, but I have you and Nathan, work, friends. Leo, you'll never have to worry about me finding someone else." She brushes a strand of hair away from my forehead. "I've got more important things to worry about."

"Mom," I say. "I want you to be happy."

"I am," she smiles. "I have been since the moment I found out I was having you. Leo, your dad will always own my heart. I know how much you want me to be happy, to avoid being lonely, but trust me when I say I wouldn't change a thing about my life." Her smile broadens, a hint of cockiness on her face. "I've done pretty damn well without a man in my life, if I do say so myself."

A small smile forms on my lips. "You have, Mom. Don't ever forget that."

"How can I when I have you to look at every day?" She nudges me in the ribs.

I roll my eyes. Mom has always made me the centre of her universe and, in a way, I guess I can understand that. Like any kid, it used to annoy me when I was younger; I sometimes felt like she was being either too overprotective or giving me too much attention. But now that I've matured a little more, I've learned to not take any of her attention for granted. I appreciate it more than she can possibly understand. Especially this summer. Because, when fall comes around, I'm not going to be seeing her every day. I'm not going to be able to make dinner for her or anything like that.

"Love you, too, Mom," I reply.

Mom reaches out and squeezes my shoulder. "I don't know if I'd go that far," she jokes.

"Ouch, Mom," I laugh.

She laughs along with me for a moment before nudging the food in my direction. "Want some? It's a veggie curry rice bowl."

Without hesitation, I take the fork from her hand and take a bite of the curry. It's delicious — rich and hot and mildly spicy. I love it. "This is delicious," I say. "Where did you and James go? I want to know all about this dinner."

Mom smiles and jerks her head in the direction of the living room. "Go get yourself settled and enjoy the rest of the food. I'll make us some tea. And then I will describe to you the most awkward non-date dinner in history."