Elevator Pitch (Hapless In Love #1)

18. Mama Takes Manhattan

18

mama takes manhattan

Selah

Manhattan, NY | November 24, 2023

My mama has been in town for Thanksgiving, and it’s been amazing to see her. It’s her first time visiting since I moved to New York, and I’m so proud to show her what I’ve done for myself in these past two years. We had a small dinner yesterday, just the two of us, and it reminded me of old times. I hadn’t been able to spend a lot of one-on-one time with my mom over the years because of how isolated I was living in West Chester with my ex. I’m determined to make up for it as much as I can now that I have a better job that allows me to travel. I’ve visited St. Louis a few times, mostly to surprise her, and I’m grateful I can do things like that now. I’ll cry in the airport when she flies home on Sunday. Thankfully, she’ll be back in a few weeks for Christmas, so I won’t go too long without seeing her.

We’re at Audrey and Rome’s house for Friendsgiving saying our goodbyes to everyone. As she and Rome walk us to our car, I take in Audrey’s beautiful fall decor one last time because when I come over next, she’ll have this place all decked out for Christmas.

Growing up as an only child, I’m very accustomed to it being just my mom and I. Something I’ve loved about how my friends celebrate the holidays makes me feel like I’m experiencing what it’s like to have a big family for once. Having my mom here to be a part of it is the icing on the cake. She just jumped in, welcoming everyone with open arms. I noticed her bonding with Chess and Audrey, and I appreciated that. I can’t imagine how difficult the holidays must be without a parent.

My dad and I were never close. He and Mom split up when I was a baby, and he wanted no part in raising me. He started over with a family he loves very much and while I always wished I knew my siblings; my mom did a damn good job with me. I’d be a lot more social if I had a sibling or two, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. Plus, I really cherish what I have with the girls now. We’re just missing Eric, who’s spending the holiday with his family in Atlanta. He sent a bunch of pics and gave us a call when we all sat down for dinner, so it felt like he was here anyway.

It’s around midnight when we hit the road and if we were in St. Louis right now, the streets would be bare, but it’s the complete opposite here. Mama’s manning the playlist for the drive home, which has been a vibe so far. She hasn’t gotten over the fact that I work for Kiwi Music, which is the cutest thing in the world. She’ll tell anyone who’ll listen about how proud she is of her daughter with the cool job. I knew I had nothing to worry about when it came to Mom’s music taste because I got mine from somewhere. She started us off with some Whitney and Mary J, then turned on Bey’s Homecoming album, so we’re having a full-on concert by the time I pull into the parking garage. I remember I haven’t checked my mail in a few days, so we enter through the lobby. Rome bagged up our leftovers, so they were easy for us to carry inside.

As expected, I’ve got quite a bit of mail waiting for me. All I thought about this week was ‘my mom is coming to town’ and couldn’t care less about anything else. I made sure my house was spotless, and the guest room was up to par. I created the illusion that no one lives there by hiding all the unsightly crap in closets and under the beds like normal people do. Now, it looks like I live in a staged apartment and my mom is under the assumption that I’m an adult who has their shit together.

I tuck the envelopes and mailers under my arm to free a hand to lock the mailbox. I look up and see Greyson greet Gino, our night door attendant, as he enters with Clifford. My heart starts racing at the sight of him. I’ve seen him since the kiss, and we’ve maintained our Tuesday coffee dates, but he makes me more nervous now. That kiss altered my brain chemistry. I also forgot to tell my mom about our date. Oops. He strides across the lobby before he notices me and stops in his tracks. Clifford’s tail wags excitedly. We lock eyes, and he flashes a smile that’s impossible not to return. As he approaches, I am enveloped in his scent, and I feel heat pooling between my thighs.

Fuck.

What cologne does he wear?

It should be illegal.

“I didn’t think I’d be seeing you again ‘til next week,” he says.

“We just got back from dinner with friends.”

“Same here,” he says, signaling the leash in his hand. “I’m not allowed to go anywhere without him.”

“Hi, handsome,” I say directly to Cliff.

His tail wags speed up and I bend down to scratch his chin.

I return to my height as Mama inches closer to me and looks between us with an intrigued expression, clearly waiting to be introduced.

“Um, sorry. Mama, this is my neighbor, Greyson.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Bailey.”

He extends a hand to her and wraps the other around his wrist, she joins him in a handshake.

“Oh please, call me Elise,” she says in a flirty tone.

I try to stifle my laughter because I have never heard her use that voice before. We board the elevator, and it's awkward for the first time since we’ve met because my mom is here. He doesn’t take his eyes off me for the remainder of the ride. I don’t have to look at my mom to know she’s watching suspiciously and will be grilling me about this interaction as soon as I get off this elevator.

I should start going over my answers now.

When the ding sounds and the doors open, she steps out first and I follow, saying goodbye to them both.

“See you Tuesday?” he asks hopefully.

“See you Tuesday.”

The relieved smile he wears before the doors close is enough for my mom to whisper-yell my name behind me, regaining my focus.

I whip my head around and ask, “What?”

She walks beside me bumping her shoulder into me as we start for my apartment.

“Now, who is that? And what did he mean he didn’t think he was going to see you ‘til next week? What do you do with that man on Tuesdays , Selah?”

What we actually do is harmless, but I’m going to lie anyway.

“If you must know,” I say in a hushed voice. “We play in pinochle tournaments, and they can get pretty heated .”

She stops in her tracks and makes an incredulous face.

“Bullshit.” She breaks out into a fit of laughter. When she settles down, she asks, “Are you hittin’ that?”

“No, mama.” I chuckle and keep walking.

“Shit. Well, you should be. He smells really good, too,” she adds as she follows behind me.

“Doesn’t he?” I ask, letting us into my apartment.

“I knew it. You little liar,” she whispers.

“I’ll tell you if you help me put away all this damn food.”

She quickly settles in and darts over to unload the leftovers into my fridge. I follow behind to help and I shriek a laugh at her impressive speed.

“I’m not sleeping with him. You remember the experiment I told you about for therapy where I work from the coffee shop on Tuesdays? He’s been keeping me company, so I don’t have a panic attack when I have to do it. That’s all.”

She sighs, “Well, that was pretty underwhelming, but neighborly.” She leans in close like she’s got a secret. “That man wants you , and not just on Tuesdays.”

“Mom, stop. He’s just a good neighbor.”

“Oh, I’m sure he’s really good,” she teases.

Alright, now. I’ve had enough of you.”

“You could never.” She grabs my broom and sings into it.

“You got that right. I’ve teased you enough. We’ve gone on two dates. Nothing more.”

“Last month? You haven’t even mentioned his name to me. Why is that?”

“Probably because the girls are really invested in him and you’ll be too. I don’t want to be in a relationship again. You’re bound to trip and fall into a relationship with a guy like him. He’s great.”

I brief her on my interactions with Greyson over the months since we met. From him reading romance novels just to talk to me to our perfect date where I smiled so much my cheeks hurt. Her face when I told her about the books and the vinyl was hilarious. When I tell her that he kissed the life out of me at the end of the night and went home, her salt and pepper eyebrows are in her hairline.

“Mama, say something. Did I break you?”

She exhales deeply and palms her face.

“Listen, baby. We both need to get second jobs.”

“Why?”

“So that we can afford to hire Audrey whenever you marry this guy.”

“Mama, please.”

I roll my eyes in response, and she gives me a knowing look. Once we’ve squeezed the last container in the fridge and close it without any trouble, we change into our pajamas and retire to the couch for a movie. Before we press play, she sits up like she’s got an idea. She turns towards me and her face lights up.

“How about this? Whenever you find out just how good of a neighbor he is, give me a call and say ‘pinochle .’ Repeat it three times if he’s good and once if he’s not. Then hang up and I’ll call you back for the dirty details.”

I snort out loud. I’ve never seen her act like this.

“Mama, you can’t be serious.”

She pins me with a stare, so I know she is.

“We got a deal?”

“Deal.”

We shake on this ridiculous agreement, only because I’d like this conversation to be over as soon as possible.

Pinochle once equals bad.

Pinochle three times equals good.

That’s easy to remember.

Not that I’ll be finding out just how good of a neighbor Greyson is anyway.

I’ve dreamt about it a time or two though.