Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
JOE
Oh, hell. Fuck my life. I wanted to think my mom would have been sensible enough not to mention to Joey that I wanted to marry Thea. Sometimes, my mom said too much, especially when it came to me.
I caught Thea’s expression and winced slightly. She was startled all right, but she handled it like a pro.
“Well, I don't know. Maybe we don't need to worry about that right now.”
“If Dad's in love with you, I want you to get married,” my son replied, his gaze swinging to me in the rearview mirror.
“How about we pump the brakes on this?” I commented.
“Does that mean to slow down?” Joey asked.
Like most kids his age, Joey tended to think literally.
“Yeah, slow down. We're not to marriage yet. I love Thea, and that's what's important right now. We'll figure the rest out when the time is right.”
I was seriously winging this and hoped he hadn't just screwed things up with Thea.
Joey shrugged. “All right. I guess you can just be in love.”
I couldn't help but chuckle and was relieved to hear Thea’s soft laughter beside me.
“What's for dinner tonight?” Joey asked, blessedly moving on.
“We're going out.”
Joey sat up straighter. “Where?”
“What do you think about Pizza Play?”
“Yes!” Joey exclaimed, punching one fist and then the other into the air. He wiggled sideways in his seat, entirely distracted from the wedding idea. “It's my favorite pizza place, and they have a playground. Can we go now?”
I glanced at the dashboard clock, having already anticipated this. “That's the plan.”
Thea knew where we were going already. This pizza place was a rarity in the universe of pizza and parenting.
They had gourmet wood-fired pizza, but it was also totally family friendly with an indoor play area on one side.
For parents, it was heaven with delicious pizza, a kid-friendly menu, and occupied children.
With Joey practically bouncing in his seat all the way to the pizza place, it didn't take much effort to keep him talking.
He was full of information for Thea. He told her about the kids in his class, his favorite gym teacher, his favorite substitute teacher, and his favorite lunch menu, which was called the fun stuff menu, and they only had it once per quarter.
“What's the fun stuff menu?” Thea asked.
His eyes went wide as he spun in his seat. I called over my shoulder. “Stay in your seat belt.”
“Okay,” he said quickly. “Did you guys have the fun stuff menu when you were in school? Dad said you went to elementary school together.”
Thea smiled. “We did. And we didn’t have the fun stuff menu. What’s on that menu?”
“It's tater tots with cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches and pizza and hot dogs and milkshakes,” Joey explained.
I caught Thea’s eyes, commenting, “That's basically what our regular menu was, if I recall.”
Joey’s mouth dropped open as he looked between us. I winced slightly. “Sorry, they feed you much healthier food now.”
“That's not fair,” he said slowly.
“It probably is. I think you're going to be a lot healthier when you grow up than I am.”
“You eat healthy now,” he protested.
I thought I heard a snort come from Thea, but Joey was too distracted to notice.
I did eat mostly healthy now, but it was because I had a son and needed to try to make sure he had healthy food.
Left to my own devices, without anyone else to be responsible for, I ate mostly takeout, which wasn't all bad, but fast food was fast and convenient, not necessarily healthy.
The nights when I covered the emergency service calls, I got by on coffee, doughnuts, and the occasional fast food burger. It was what it was.
“I'm asking the principal how come we can't eat the way you guys used to eat,” Joey announced.
“She's not going to go for it,” I replied.
“How do you know?” he protested.
“I just know. Count your blessings that you have the fun stuff menu once a quarter.”
Joey let out an elaborate sigh.
“You'll be all right,” I promised.
The rest of the drive passed by in a blink.
“When did this place open?” Thea asked as we were crossing the parking lot.
I wanted to reach for her hand as I replied, “A few years ago.”
Even though Joey knew she meant something to me, I hesitated until he glanced accusingly between us. “Why aren't you holding her hand?”
I could tell Thea was trying not to laugh because the corners of her mouth pinched together. I reached for her hand immediately. “I am now.”
“Wow, Dad. You don't even know how to be a good boyfriend.”
“I don't?” I pressed while Thea’s shoulders shook with laughter.
He shook his head and glanced at Thea. “I'll have to explain it to him.”
Once again, she succeeded at not laughing out loud. “I can't wait,” she said solemnly.
A few minutes later, we were waiting in line, and Thea’s eyes were scanning the chalkboard menu mounted behind the counter. “Which side are we sitting on?” Joey asked.
I looked down at him, puzzled. “The side with the play area.” This had never been something he wondered about.
“Yeah, but this is a date,” he replied.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“You're taking Thea out to dinner,” he replied, his tone exasperated.
“I'd love to sit over near the play area,” Thea chimed in. “Don't you want to?” Thea squatted, rocking on her heels and bringing her eyes level with Joey’s.
Joey looked from her to me and back again before he nodded sagely. “Ah, that'll give you some private time. Okay, we'll sit on the playground side.”
Thea smiled. “Okay, but if you want us to sit at a regular table, that's fine too.”
“Nope.” Joey was resolute in this. He seemed to be taking his wingman responsibilities seriously.
After we ordered and got seated, he looked from me to Thea again, narrowing his eyes almost comically. “Well, Dad, here’s what I know about having a girlfriend.”
I leaned one elbow on the table and reached with my other hand for Thea’s underneath, giving it a squeeze as I laced my fingers with hers. She looked at him attentively, her expression very serious.
“I can't wait,” I offered.
With a solemn nod, my son began. “Well, you should be writing her a note once a day.” He looked toward Thea. “Is he doing that?”
“Do texts count?” she asked.
Joey was thrown by this. “I'm not sure. I don't have my own cell phone. I write them on paper and fold them up.” His nose scrunched as he contemplated. “But when you're in Boston, that's not easy.”
“Okay, and then what?” I asked.
“You need to hold her hand at lunch. I don't get to eat dinner with my girlfriend, but I'm pretty sure that would be one of the rules.”
“Joey, who's your girlfriend?” I felt pressed to ask.
“Jamie.”
“Oh, how long has she been your girlfriend?”
“A week. My girlfriend last month was Tara.”
“Oh, I didn't know that.” I was a little thrown by these details. It was only weeks ago when he was horrified at the idea of liking any girl.
Joey shrugged casually as he lifted his chin. “I don't tell you everything, Dad.”
Thea squeezed my hand.
“Also, no kissing on the lips. You can only kiss her on the cheek, and only once. I haven't had a girlfriend for Valentine's Day, but Tara told me guys have to plan for a card and some candy. Like those little heart things, the ones I don't like.” He scrunched his nose at this.
“All of that sounds great. I appreciate your advice,” I said.
“If you need to run the notes by me when Thea’s here, just ask. I check on three of my friends’ notes at school to make sure they're nice.”
“What is nice?” Thea asked.
“Just the handwriting. Mine’s pretty good. You know I got an A in handwriting.” He looked over at me.
“You sure did.” It was a miracle I didn’t laugh. I did have to squeeze Thea’s hand really hard to let that energy out somewhere.
Another bonus about this place was they were pretty quick with the food.
Our pizza arrived, and Joey was immediately absorbed in eating.
After he scarfed down two slices of his beloved extra pepperoni and extra cheese pizza, he dashed off to the play area.
Thea paused between bites to smile over at me, a sly glint in her eyes.
“You need to up your game. Handwritten notes and so on.”
“I can handle that.” I leaned over and stole a kiss.
I meant for it to be quick, but it was Thea and me, and the second my lips met hers, the fire ignited.
Before I knew it, I was sliding my hand into her hair and sweeping my tongue into her mouth.
She made an inarticulate sound in the back of her throat and then pressed her palm to my chest. I drew back, gratified to see the pink flush staining her cheeks.
“Joe,” she scolded in a whisper.
“What? It's just a kiss. Joey didn't even see, plus you're spending the weekend with us at the house.”
“I know. We didn't talk about the details. Should I sleep on the couch?”
“No,” I said firmly. “He already knows I love you, and, apparently, he's ready to plan the wedding.”
Thea giggled, and I leaned back, actually forcing myself to take another bite from my pizza slice just so I didn't kiss her again.
“He looks just like you,” she said, her tone almost wondering.
“So I'm told.”
“It's kind of a trip. I remember you when you were that age. You never wanted to be my boyfriend back then.”
“I don't think I had a single girlfriend in elementary school and not even middle school. That really wasn't my thing. I think my son is sweeter than I was back then.”
“You were a really great boyfriend in high school,” she said, her tone sincere as her eyes held mine.
“I tried. It wasn't hard with you.”
Her brows rose in question. “You were my one and only serious girlfriend. Honestly, you’re my only serious girlfriend.”
“You weren't serious with Joe's mom?”
“Thea, I already told you. It was a one-night stand.
I'm not proud of that, but that's what it was.
I think we handle co-parenting well, but there's nothing romantic there, as far as the relationship goes.” I could tell she was worrying.
I leaned over, stealing another kiss. “You need to remember to stop worrying.”
“What do you think I'm worrying about?” she asked when I lifted my lips from hers.
“I know that look. You’re worrying.”
A rueful smile curled her lips, and she took another bite of pizza. “Do I need to be worried about your parents tomorrow night?”