Small talk with her mom

We settled into the hotel room and spent some time catching up.

Mrs. Morgan asked me about school, how I was enjoying senior year, and whether I was ready for graduation. I told her things were going well and that it was strange realizing how quickly the year was moving.

Eventually, I asked about Sarah’s dad.

“How’s your dad? I was surprised he didn’t come along.”

Mrs. Morgan smiled and shook her head. “He wanted to, but work has been crazy. He’s been tied up with a project and couldn’t get away this week.”

“That’s too bad.”

“Yeah. He wasn’t very happy about missing it.”

Sarah jumped into the conversation. “I told him we’d bring him back sometime.”

Mrs. Morgan laughed. “That’s probably the only way we’ll get him here.”

As we continued talking, I noticed something else.

Mrs. Morgan kept looking at me.

At first, I assumed I was imagining it. But every so often, I’d catch her eyes lingering on me for a moment before she looked away.

She’d noticed the changes too.

“You’ve been working out,” she said eventually.

I smiled. “A little.”

“A little?” Sarah laughed. “He’s being modest. He’s at the gym constantly.”

Mrs. Morgan looked me over again and smiled. “Well, whatever you’re doing, it seems to be working.”

“Thanks.”

She nodded, but there was something about the way she said it that made me wonder if she was being a little more complimentary than necessary.

Sarah didn’t seem to notice.

She was sitting beside me, happily talking about the campus tour we’d just taken.

I listened to her while occasionally catching Mrs. Morgan looking my way again.

There was something strangely familiar about the situation.