Chapter 9

Sean and I were getting closer as the days goes by. We had gone out a couple more times. A few evenings after work, Sean had come by, picked me up and we'd go hang out for a few hours. Afterwards, he would drop me back at my house then return home. Sean even surprised me by purchasing the two paintings his friend did- the ones that I had fallen in love with at the gallery that night. In addition, he had them delivered to my house totally surprising me.

In my opinion, that was a super sweet and romantic gesture. I don't know if it was possible that there were any other guys that were as nearly perfect as Sean. Even though I was still keeping an eye out for the flaws any day now, so far I couldn't find any. And I seriously doubted that there was any such thing as the perfect guy.

"Morgan, I'm going to the grocery store in a few minutes. Would you mind coming along and help me?" Mom asked me as she passed me in the living room on her way to the kitchen.

"Yeah sure, I need to get out of the house anyway." I responded while sitting up in the couch and turning off the TV. "I'm just going to change my clothes okay?"

I quickly ran upstairs to my room and changed into a casual red and white stripe blouse with faded cut jeans and converse sneakers. On our way to the supermarket, Mom drove while I sat in the passenger seat next to her.

"So Mom, you know how my birthday is coming up next week?" I said to her.

"Huh uh," Mom responded while keeping her focus on the road.

"Well I'm not going to ask you guys for anything but in case anyone is wondering what to get me, just remember that I like makeup okay?" I said to her.

"You're not asking but you're hinting. Like strongly hinting." Mom chuckled glancing at me briefly. "I don't see why you need makeup anyway, aren't you already beautiful as you are?"

"Mom that's not the point. Makeup enhances the beauty that's already there and makes me feel more confident. I said to her. "Yes, I'm naturally beautiful but somehow makeup just gives an extra touch which makes me feel extra beautiful. What's so bad about that?"

"I never said there was anything wrong or bad about it. I'm just saying that I don't really understand the whole extra makeup and addition idea." Mom said to me. "I just think that we should embrace our naturalness more."

Of course she would think that. My mom was just that type of person, she rather going just as she was born. She doesn't believe in a lot of makeup and she hardly wears any. I think that apart of the reason was because my Dad prefers her with a bare face.

My Dad hated the whole makeup, fake lashes, fake nails, and that stuff. So my mom sort of just liked going with everything natural, she doesn't even wear nail polish and such. Occasionally, she'd wear some mascara and natural looking nude lipstick or gloss and that's when I forced her to. There wasn't anything wrong with her rather going in her natural state, she was actually beautiful without any additions but me- I love my makeup and it wasn't a matter of insecurity or anything, I just had a passion for it.

I remembered my Dad got mad at me for wearing lipstick when I was 14 years old. He didn't think that makeup was for kids, so I had stuck to simple lip-gloss and little mascara until I turned 18years old. That was when I decided that I was going to start expressing myself with wearing makeup. Dad himself even complimented me telling me I looked pretty even though he didn't like makeup. Ever since, my love for the products remained.

"I do embrace my naturalness from time to time, like now for example? But there are times when a girl needs to fix herself up. I'm still young mom, I've got to make the most of my youth." I said to her.

"So you're saying I'm old then?" Mom asked.

"I didn't say that Ma, you did." I chuckled "Oh and by the way remember my favourite cheap products are from the LA Girl line.

"I know that I'm not buying you any makeup so maybe you should hint to Kim and your other friends." Mom said to me. "If I'm getting you anything, it’s going to be something worthwhile, not something as useless as makeup that you can always do without."

"Useless? Mom seriously? You know, sometimes you can be such a..."

"A what Morgan? I can be such a what? I want to hear it." Mom dared me.

"You can be such a Mom." I finished rolling my eyes. "What else did you think I was going to say?”

"Well that's exactly who I am, your mom." mom responded. "Not your friend..."

"You could pretend you're my friend sometimes instead..." I paused as my phone started ringing "I have to take this."

"Hey," I answered the phone with a smile on my face.

"Hello beautiful how are you?" Sean greeted which caused my smile to brighten.

"I'm good, I'm really good. How about you?"

"I'm alright as well. I just took my lunch break. And I thought about you." Sean said to me. "I really want to see you again soon. I just want to see your gorgeous face and that beautiful smile of yours and hear your laugh. I love your laugh, have I ever told you that before?"

"No, but you just told me now." I giggled and noticed Mom looked over at me with a weird expression.

"Well, I really love hearing when you laugh. It is nice and relaxing." Sean responded.

"What? My laugh is relaxing? That's the first I'm hearing that one." I laughed.

"There it is... Honestly it really is. I love my job a lot but sometimes I just need a break too. I hardly get time to go out or relax much since I work six days a week but hearing you laugh for the past couple of weeks has somehow relaxed me." Sean said to me. "Right now I'm honestly a bit tired, I just feel like leaving the office for the rest of the day and go to the beach or something."

"You know you could always do that if you want. I mean you do operate your own business and if you don't have a lot of patients left... It’s actually a great day to visit the beach." I responded smiling even though he couldn't see.

"If I leave now... in a couple minutes would you be available to accompany me there?" Sean asked. "I really think I'd close the office for the remainder of the day. I haven't been to the beach in years... by the way, what are you doing now? Sounds like you're driving?"

"My mom's driving. I'm going to the grocery store with her right now so I couldn't be your company today. Sorry." I said to him "Maybe another day though."

'What?' Mom mouthed to herself before giving me another one of her looks.

It was one of those confused look that says 'who the hell is she talking to? I know she was wondering since when do I blush and giggle on a phone call? Or what is it that isnt aware of as yet?'

I could literally see the curiosity burning through her.

"Oh, that's nice. You and your mom still have that connection. You haven't mentioned me to her as yet have you?" Sean asked.

"Not exactly. But maybe I will eventually... Hey Sean? I don't want to seem rude or anything but we've just arrived outside the store. I kind of have to go now." I said to him a bit disappointed about ending the car. "Talk to you later?"

"No worries, it is cool. I'll call you later okay? Enjoy the rest of your day beautiful." Sean responded.

"Yeah, you too." I smiled before hanging up the phone.

"Okay, since when do you giggle and blush and all these things when talking on the phone?" Mom asked as she parked the car in the parking lot.

I knew it. I knew that was what she was thinking when she gave me that look.

"I wasn't giggling and blushing." I denied as I got out of the car.

"Yeah you were... A lot. And you were twirling your hair as if flirting with someone." Mom insisted. "So? When am I going to meet this mystery boy who has you blushing and reacting like that? And don't say that it's nothing, I'm not stupid."

"Who says that it is a boy Mom?" I asked her.

"it isnt? Wait, is it a girl then?" Mom asked raising her brows.

"Maybe," I shrugged hiding the smile.

"No, I know you and I know you're not gay. So it's definitely a guy." mom said to me.

*A guy? yes A boy? No. He's a grown man Mom, almost your age.

"We're just getting to know each other Mom. It's not that serious or anything as yet." I said to her. "But if and when we decide to get more serious then you and Dad will definitely meet him."