I woke up the next morning and quickly grabbed a bowl of cereal. "What's up?" Ryder asked taking a seat next to me and grabbing a bowl. "I'm going to see my mom today." I said. "Oh that's good, you think she stayed clean?" He asked. "Yes i think so. But it killed me to know i couldn't babysit her." I said.

"Did you check the cameras?" He asked. "Not enough, i was kind of busy." I said laughing. "Of course, well i'm gonna go to the studio i'll try to come home for lunch. I hope you have a good visit with your mom." He said. "Thanks, have you seen Conner yet?" I asked. "No he was on the phone in his room all morning." He said. "Who do you think he was talking to?" I asked. "Well the funeral home for one. He's having to plan his mom's funeral." He said. My heart fell into my stomach. "No son should have to plan his mom's funeral." I said.

He sighed. "I know, his aunts are trying to help him but i think he felt he needed to do this after the way he left." Ryder said. "I get that, what happened when he left the society?" I asked. "Well he told us he was leaving to go be with his dad. We were all angry. He was going to work for the enemy. He said he wouldn't tell his dad anything. And he wasn't doing this for the job he was doing it to be closer to his dad. We couldn't be mad at him for that." He said. Of course, i agreed. I scarfed down the cereal and washed the bowl in the sink.

"I'll see you soon." I said giving Ryder a kiss. "Good luck today, i love you." He said. "I love you too." I said. I headed to my moms house. I probably should have called but i felt it better to surprise her. If she knew i was coming she might try to hide anything bad. When i pulled into her house i saw a car in the driveway. I didn't like to be surprised i only wanted to surprise her. Was something wrong? Was it one of her men? Should i call the cops?

I pulled my phone out of my pocket. Movement on camera three. She was in the living room. She was on the couch with some guy. Making out with him. "Wait what!?" I said out loud. My voice startled me and i quickly climbed out of the car and ran to her door. I rang the bell and the two jumped apart. I slid the phone back into my pocket. My mom answered the door seconds later. "Oh baby! You're home!!" She said. "So are you i see, do you have company?" I asked. Her eyes got big. "Uh no, well i mean...yes...but we were just talking." She said. Sure you were.

"Mom, it's okay if you have a boyfriend." I said. "Right, about that." "You're embarrassed for me to meet him?" I asked. "Um well it's not that..." She pulled me inside and closed the door behind me. "I just know you've spent a good deal of your life judging me and you had every right, but well i..." Her eyes fell to the floor. "I didn't know you were coming." She said as i followed her into the living room.

"Pete!?" I said shocked. "Hey Sydney long time no see." He said. "I was just checking on your mom." He said. "Do all your check ins involve makeout sessions?" I asked. The color drained from his face. "I think i'll go, let you two talk." He said. "Call me." He whispered to my mom and he ran out that door so fast i thought he would leave marks on the carpet.

"I didn't want you to find out like this." My mom said. "Is this a good idea?" I asked. "What do you mean?" "Well where should i start!? First of all he's your sponsor. You're mixing business with pleasure. Secondly he's twenty. He's half your age!" I said. "Yes but he's the sexiest man i've ever met, i swear he could be a model." She said. "What's that got to do with anything!?" I scoffed. "Have you seen me? You're right, i'm forty. And if a man that good looking is taking an interest in me i'm not gonna say no." She said.

"Even if he's your sponsor?" I asked. "What is a sponsor anyways? Huh? Somebody to keep tabs on you and keep you in line. He's doing that. He makes me feel alive. Like i have a new reason to stay clean." "What? I wasn't good enough?" I said angrily. "Honey you're why i got clean." She said. "No, you needed the money." I said. "Look, i could have found another way to get the money. I was hurt that you left." She said. "You know why i couldn't stay here!!" I shouted. "No, i do and i am not mad that you left. But i was worried about you." She said. "Why? You never cared before..." I said. "I know it seems that way but until you're in my shoes...you don't know what those drugs did to me. They had a hold on me so tight..." She said.

"Well, i don't know." I said. "What do you need from me?" I asked. "I need you to love me." She said. "Look around." I said bitterly. "Obviously i love you or i wouldn't have helped you." I said. "I know that but i need you to love me as your mom and not some kid you have to babysit. I was glad you left. I can take care of myself. I've almost got my phlebotomy licence. And i'm..." "Dating a child." I said.

She frowned. "Do you have to do that?" She asked. "Do you have to do him!?" I asked. "I am your mother and you will treat me with respect." She said. "How about you treat Pete with some respect huh? He's not some piece of meat. I warned him about you." I said. "You what?" She asked surprise covering her features. "That you're...you know...easy." I said. "That's mean! Why would you say that?" "Because it's true!" I said. "Are you kidding me right now? Is this about your father? Because we aren't going to get back together you know." She said.

"No, i know that. It's just he's so young. He hit on me you know and now he's with you. I just don't know that it's a good idea. But i don't know that i can stop you either so..." I trailed off. "You can't."She said. "I'm a grown woman, and i know what i'm doing." She said. "Okay." I said putting my hands up in surrender. "Do you wanna look around? Make sure i've been a good girl while you've been gone?" She asked. I took a seat on the couch. "No, i just wanted to come see you." I said. "Okay, fine then." She took a seat next to me on the couch. "How was your work trip?" She asked.

"Well, it could have gone better but we learned a lot." I said. "I guess that's the most important part. You know i'm learning to. I had to practice taking blood on an orange. I don't know why, they don't have veins." She said shaking her head. I started laughing. Then she joined in. The thought of her taking juice out of an orange was just funny to me. She wiped at her eyes. "I'm glad you came by." She said. After we visited a while i left to go see Ryder.

I pulled into his studio. I pushed the door open and walked inside. He did a great job setting everything up. I pulled my phone out being reminded that Ethan needed help setting up his reception area in the garage. "Hey you, what's up?" He asked. I spotted Ryder in the corner talking to a few girls. "Well i was calling to see when you wanted me to come help you. I have a stack of art in the back of my car." I said.

"Actually could you come in about an hour?" He asked. "Sure." "That would be great i'm having trouble picking a receptionist." He said. "Why?" I asked. "Every last one of them is fine...and i don't know if they are right for the job or just super cute." He said. I laughed. "You're kidding right?" I asked. "I wish i was. I have half of the candidates coming back plus two new ones." He said. "Okay, i'll see you then." I said laughing as i hung up. Classic Ethan.

I waited for Ryder to finish his conversation but he never did so i walked over. "Hey you." He said pulling me into a hug. The girls stared me down. "Okay ladies, i have you on the schedule. We'll start at 8 am and you can always sign up for more advanced classes." Ryder said. "I need those." Said the first girl. "So do i." The other one said. "Okay well let's see how the first class goes and we'll get you put in." He said.

"Great Ryder, see you tomorrow. I can't wait for you to tackle me." She said. Ew did she seriously just say that? The other girl looked to me. "Are you taking the class to?" She asked. "I am." I said. "Oh, why?" She asked. "I'm a supportive girlfriend." I said. She frowned. "Well things can change. See you tomorrow." She said and her and her friend left. "You okay with that?" He asked. "Oh yea, i know you're hot. It's good for business i guess." I said shrugging. He wrapped his arms around me. "As long as you know you're my favorite person to tackle." He said in my ear.

I shivered. "That so?" I asked. "Mhm in fact i was thinking we should try out these new mats you got me." He said walking me backwards not letting me go. "Oh, okay." I said. He gently pushed me down on the mats and laid next to me. "Did you have a good visit with your mom?" He asked. "I don't know...she's dating...Pete..." I said. "What!?" He asked shock covering his handsome features. "I know weird right?" I asked. "He's so young..." He said. "And your mom is so...your mom." He said. "Yea it's weird to me as well. But i guess not much i can do about it." I said.

He shook his head. "He's a baby...what does she see in him?" He asked. "Oh i could think of a few things." I said. "Oh?" He asked. I laughed. "Not that i thought they were notice worthy but i mean he's kind of ripped." I said. "Ripped?" He asked. "Not like you mind you but he's got that body all 20 year olds have and my mom doesn't like beer bellies i guess." He laughed. "I don't know many women that do. I'm sure if they could all date Pete's they would." He said. "Probably true." I agreed.

"So how many people have signed up?" I asked. "Well i put flyers everywhere. I actually have the first three classes full in the morning. 8,9,10." He said. "That's great, i'm so proud of you." I said. "Thanks, who would have thought i'd get to do this for a living. All those fights i got into weren't for nothing." He said. "Well i wouldn't say that." I said. "I never seriously hurt anybody. Well unless you count that one guy. I broke his nose.Okay and there was that one guy who broke his fingers hitting my face. Okay and there was that one time i punched a guy so hard he fell and broke his arm..." He trailed off. "You were mean." I said laughing. "I wasn't mean, they wanted to fight me." He said.

"But you beat them up so badly!" I said. "Well they learned a lesson, after a while people stopped wanting to fight me. Which is just as well because i was kicked out shortly after that." He said. "You're something else, you know that?" I laughed. "Yes, but i have it on good authority you like it." He said kissing my nose.

"I do, but if i ever change my mind you have a line of girls willing to take my place." I said. "You'd change your mind?" He said pouting. I laughed. "Not on your life, i was just saying." "I don't believe you." He said.  "Come on where am i gonna find abs like this on another guy?" I asked running my hands under his shirt. He was so incredibly good looking. I don't know how a girl like me ended up with a guy like him.

He pulled me closer to him. I wrapped one of my legs over his and his face met mine. I ran my fingers through his hair. He was such a good kisser. I could have stayed like this forever. But i heard someone clear their throat. I hadn't even heard anyone come in. It was an older lady. "Oh i'm so sorry." He said jumping up. He helped me up and then introduced himself to her. "I"m rosy, it's nice to meet you and no need to apologize i was young once." She said winking at me.

"What can i help you with?" Ryder asked her. "Well me and my friends need to toughen up. Lucinda was mugged the other day and if she hadn't had her pepper spray that guy could've done real damage to her." She said. "No problem, i'd be happy to help you. How many of you are there?" He asked. "Well seven of us." He turned around picked up a clipboard from a nearby table. "Okay i can fit you in after lunch at one?" He said. "Oh perfect the girls will be so happy. I'll see you then stud." She said turning to go.

"I should go to stud, i've gotta help Ethan. He's got one to many girls and not enough Ethan." I said. He laughed. "Sounds like Ethan." He nodded. "Good luck." He said kissing me once more. Once i pulled into his garage i saw a line of girls standing outside the door. I looked them up and down before walking inside. "Oh man you have got your work cut out for you." I said. "I know." He sighed. "Can you help me with this art?" I asked. "Sure thing." He followed me out to my car and we made a few trips.

"Here's all of the resume's" He said. I took them and took a seat in one of the chairs. After a few minutes i looked up. "Okay i think Emily and Jasmine are looking good to me." I said. "Just a minute i'll go get them." He said walking outside. "Wait, why did you invite all of them back anyways?" I asked. "Well the ones who didn't get the job will need a shoulder, mine." He shrugged.

He brought Emily in first. She was a cute thing. Maybe not hot like the girls he was referring to But she had her brown hair pulled back into a bun. Glasses framed her delicate face. She wore a white button up shirt with a striped skirt. "Hi, i'm here to help Ethan with the new hires." I said. "Okay great, this job is right up my alley. I was working at a doctors office but they moved buildings and the drive was just to far. But he's offering similar pay and benefits. You can call them, they hated to see me go." She said.

"Well if you worked at a doctors office, how will you transition to a garage things are a bit different." I said. "Yes, well my dad was really into cars his whole life. He taught me what he knows so i have basic knowledge of everything." She said. "That's great, okay we'll be in touch." I said. She left and Jasmine came in. She was one of the girls Ethan was talking about. She'd be a huge distraction. I don't know why and it wasn't nice to say but i pictured her being one of the girls at a car show that was on the car.

After we talked i got the sense that Emily would just be better for the job. Ethan was outside chatting the girls up in line and getting numbers. I shook my head. When he saw Jasmine come out he walked back in. "Well do we have a hire?" He asked. "Yea, i think you should hire Emily i think she'd be a great addition." I said. "You know i could see that, if she took her hair down, took off those glasses pulled her skirt up a few inches undid a few buttons..." His mind drifted off. "Oh you're gross. Stop that, she's a woman not a piece of meat." I said. "Oh, yea no totally. Sorry. I just..went somewhere." "yea i bet, glad to have you back. I'm gonna go hang up these pictures before i throw up." I said standing up.

"Thanks and i'll go call Emily and let her know she's got the job. Then i'll spend the rest of the morning letting the others down easy and making plans for the weekend." He said going into the back into his office. I shook my head. Well he was definitely incorrigible. I finished hanging the last picture and took a look around. Not bad Syd Not bad. By this time my stomach had started to grown for lunch. So i headed home to find something to eat.