Catherine had just got home from work. She was tired. It had been a brutal week at work and she was looking forward to the weekend. The house was empty. She lived with her 18 year old son Chuck. He was probably out with friends. School had just let out and he was not leaving for college for a few months.
The house was too quiet. She enjoyed it when Chuck and his friends were home. There was life, there was noise. She was trying to imagine life without Chuck. Since her husband had been killed in the accident, four years ago, Chuck had been her main company.
He also was there for her. When she was down, he made her smile. When she needed help, he put her first. They were a team. She started making dinner. She knew sooner or later they would roll in. Usually 3 of them. Chuck, Billy, and Chris. Practically inseparable. This was the last summer before they split up for college. She loved the energy they brought to the house. They were there almost all weekend.
As she was preparing dinner a message came in on Chuck's iPad. Usually it's in his room but this time he'd left it in the kitchen. Someone was obviously texting him and it was coming to the iPad as well as his iPhone.
Catherine had always given the boys their privacy, especially since they turned 18, but this went off right next to her. She couldn't help but look.
It was from Billy
"You're house tonight?"
Chuck replied, "You bet, pretty sure there'll be dinner."
"A great dinner and your hot mom serving it."
"Come on man. That's my mom."
"Yeah, yea. You know she's hot as well as I do."
"Shut up."
"LOL. OK, but I can still look. See you tonight."
"OK, but I may have to poke your eyes out."
"Why, so only you can enjoy the view?"
Chris replied, "My mom is pretty. I don't understand why she doesn't date. I'm afraid she will Be lonely when we leave in the fall."
"Yeah, and she's a great person. Maybe she'll meet someone after we're out."
"See you tonight."
Catherine thought about the conversation. They were obviously mature enough to care about her. They noticed she did not have much of a social life. It was sweet that they cared.
The part that stuck in her mind was they thought she was hot. Even her son said she was pretty. It had been years since anyone called her pretty. Never mind hot. It made her feel kind of tingly, flattered. She was 42. At 5'6", 130, with long brown hair, and green eyes, she certainly took care of herself. She hit the gym 3 days a week and did yoga at home. Still, no one at work is allowed to say anything about how you look at work. So compliments are few and far between.
She'd seen the girls the guys hung out with. They often came and hung out. Little 18 year old perfect bodies. Yet these young 18 year old boys looked at her, at 42, and thought she was hot. It made her feel pretty. She hadn't felt that for a while. She liked it.
She started thinking back. Images came to mind. The guys playing video games in the basement while she did her yoga. She'd never thought about it before, but now she realized they would sit in positions where they could watch her. If she were cooking, one, two, or all of them would come hang out with her. She'd never thought of it before. Now it had a little different meaning.
It made her happy. She smiled as she went through her routine making dinner.
The boys finally showed up. Friendly as usual. They greeted her.
"Hey Mrs. G. Dinner smells great."
This time she was more aware. She was still girl enough to know when she was being checked out. She was still in her work clothes. She thought about what she was wearing. Nothing outrageous. A knee length skirt and button down shirt. She was decent and presentable. She'd lost the heels and the jacket as soon as she got home. You could kind of see the bra through the white blouse, but nothing crazy and certainly appropriate for the styles of today.
Still, among the usual greetings. She was aware she was being checked out.
She kissed Chuck hello. As usual Billy complained that only Chuck got a kiss, and, as usual, Catherine kissed them all on the forehead. It was a running joke. Now it had a completely different meaning in her mind.
Usually she changed out of her work clothes before dinner. Today was no different, She went to her room. She took off her skirt and blouse. She looked in the mirror. She looked good she thought. Usually She didn't notice. Today, after reading those comments She was more aware.
Usually she'd just throw on sweats and a T. After dinner she'd go downstairs and do 30 minutes of yoga. This time she thought. She pulled out a pair of yoga pants she'd never worn before. She'd bought them for the gym but always thought they were too revealing.
She tried them on. She turned. They were tight. A second skin. Her bikini panties were clearly visible. Definately not a good look. She took the pants off and reached for her sweats. Something stopped her. She slipped off her panties and tried the yoga pants on again. They definitely covered everything and showed everything, She checked the front no, what the kids called, camel toe.
She liked it. She turned around. The pants crawled up her ass. You could pretty much see the shape of the whole thing. This made her nervous. She knew she shouldn't wear them but she knew she wasn't going to take them off. She pulled on a sports top. One that had the bra built in. No cleavage, but her belly from rib cage to below her navel showed.
It was reasonable. Everything was covered. This outfit was something people wore to the gym all the time. It was only different for her.
She put her hair in a ponytail and headed out to finish dinner. All eyes followed her. She was very aware of them looking. For some reason she was more aware of Chuck looking. She told herself it was because she was worried that she might embarrass him in front of his friends. Inside she knew she wanted him to be proud of her.
As we sat down to eat, the kids conversation included her more than usual. Usually it's about them, between themselves. Today they talked with her, to her. They asked how she was, what she was doing. Catherine was enjoying the attention.
She obviously interacted with people at work, but there is always a guarded aspect to it. You didn't want to offend someone with the wrong joke, or let slip something about a project you were working on that your boss was keeping secret so, that when he sprung it, no one else could claim credit.
The boys made her laugh in a way she hadn't laughed in years. She realized they were flirting and she liked it. No one crossed any lines, but it was nice to be treated like a woman instead of a mom or coworker.
After dinner the boys jumped up and offered to do the dishes. Wow, that was new, she thought. She gladly accepted and went downstairs to start her yoga.
As she walked out she heard Billy said, "Jees Chuck, you're Mom is hot."
"Cut it out Billy, she's my mom," Chuck laughed
"Come on Chuck. Even you have to admit she's hot."
"Yeah, she's still my mom."
"I know," said Billy, "but she's still hot. Tell me you wouldn't like to see her naked."
Chuck just laughed.
As Catherine headed downstairs she kept replaying the conversation. They thought she was hot? Even Chuck thought she was hot. Billy wanted to see her naked. She couldn't remember the last time a man had seen her naked. She had tried dating after her husband died, but really hated it. And, when Billy said Chuck wanted to see her naked Chuck didn't deny it. He just laughed.
She started her yoga. The boys finished the dishes and came downstairs. Usually they started right into their video games. This time they sat and watched. They asked her questions about the yoga. It all seemed quite normal, but it wasn't. This was completely out of the ordinary. They never paid that much attention to her.
She finished her yoga and told the boys she was going to go shower.
"Are you coming back?" Billy asked.
She laughed, "You guys have better things to do than hang around with an old lady like me," she said.