Chapter 15
SWEET GESTURE
“Ibeat you,” Farrah said, laughing as she touched the top of the wall climb before Jayce on Saturday.
“No fair,” he said. “I’m still recovering from last week. I didn’t think my fingers could ache this much.”
She laughed and pushed away from the wall to hang and bring herself down, Jayce doing the same.
Archer was at the bottom and had been cheering her on to beat his new best friend.
Friday after work, she’d said that she’d like to treat him to another day at OC Aerial. It was a thank you for giving Archer what he’d said was the best spring break ever.
The fact her son forgot he was supposed to be returning from Disney today was worth any price to pay.
Wanting to have another day with Jayce was added right to it.
“Don’t be a sore loser,” she said, winking.
They got to the ground at the same time to hear someone say to Archer. “Your parents are pretty competitive.”
Oh crap.
“That’s my mom and our friend Jayce. He’s not my dad.”
“Sorry,” the lady said and moved away. Why would anyone just assume that in this day and age when so many people don’t stay together or are divorced?
Not that she wanted to be one of those statistics but wanting and reality never seemed to align in her life.
“Can we do the rope courses now?” Archer asked.
“We can,” Farrah said. “As long as Jayce’s fingers are okay with it.”
He looked at his hand. “I can handle it,” he said. “And I’ll kick your butt just as fast.”
Only no one did. Her son was small and agile and Jayce was right. There were some serious abilities there she’d never noticed before.
“You were right. He’s good.”
“I told you.”
“We’ll have to come back again.”
“Or you can build some of these things in your yard. You’ve got the room.”
She laughed. “Yeah, right. I’m not good at building anything. Mowing my lawn and weeding the landscaping is about all I can handle.”
“I could do it,” he said.
“First, I wouldn’t ask you to do that. Second, I didn’t know you could build. You’ve wanted no part of that with your family.”
“I’m not completely helpless. It’s just not what I wanted to do with my job, but Gabe can do it and he’d help. Chance is handy. And Gabe’s brother-in-law is Royce Kennedy of Kennedy Construction. He can build anything.”
Wow, this was moving fast in her mind.
From lunch, to watching her son for a week, and now he wanted to build something in her yard. They hadn’t even had a date.
Unless he wasn’t interested in her that way and was only being nice to the single mother.
That might be worse in her mind.
“I’m sure everyone has their own houses and lives to do things with on the weekends. But I appreciate it. If it’s something I consider in the future, I’ll hire someone.”
He shrugged. “No pressure, but I could do a few things, though I’m sure you want to make sure it’s safe enough.”
“Duh,” she said, rolling her eyes at his laugh. “That might help.”
“Let’s go, guys!” Archer shouted from where he was a few feet ahead of them. “Walk faster.”
“He’s bossy,” she said. “Sorry.”
Jayce leaned in, and she caught his scent—fresh, clean, laced with heat and sweat that only seemed to sharpen it. She’d never thought she was weak enough to be swayed by something so simple, but clearly, she was wrong.
“He takes after his mother,” he murmured. “I remember you being that impatient a few times.”
She turned, finding his face so close, their eyes locking, grins mirroring, the air between them humming with something unspoken.
“Mom.”
Leave it to Archer to break the spell. Maybe it was for the best.
“Coming,” she said.
Two hours later, she was beat. Literally exhausted.
She didn’t know the last time she had been this drained.
“Come on,” he said. “Be honest. You’re worn out.”
“I don’t know how you did this all week,” she said.
“I muscled through it. No way I could let Archer think I’m a wimp.”
“I doubt that is the case,” she said. “Ready, Archer?”
“Yep. Phew. I almost wet myself on that last course.”
She let out a sigh. “You’re not supposed to hold it that long. Go use the bathroom now before we leave.”
She thought for sure her son would have sweated most of it out, but he’d had two large bottles of water.
“Can we get lunch now?” Archer asked as he ran back. “I want to give Jayce his gift.”
“Gift?” he asked.
“It’s a surprise.”
They’d gotten here early and now it was one. She was starving too.
“I love surprises,” he said. “Just like the past few weeks have been.”
He whispered that close to her ear.
Those goosebumps that had invaded her life around Jayce recently reappeared.
“Then I’m not alone,” she said and swished her hair over her shoulder to follow her son.
They left, him going to his car next to hers. They’d met because after lunch she was dropping Archer at her parents’ for the night. Her parents had gotten home late last night and wanted to see their grandson. Her son asked if he could spend the night.
Her parents never said no. Just another night alone for her.
“I want pizza,” Archer said. “But Mom said she’s not sure if you can eat it. Why can’t you eat pizza?”
He laughed. “Sometimes it doesn’t sit well in my belly,” he said. “All good.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I’ll be fine.”
“If you’re positive.”
“I am,” he said. She wasn’t so sure but wouldn’t argue either. He knew his body and maybe he didn’t want to say no to her son.
They climbed into their cars and drove off to meet at Archer’s favorite place two miles away.
“Can I bring it into the restaurant?” Archer asked.
“Yep, get the bag and bring it in.”
She hoped Jayce didn’t take this the wrong way. She didn’t want to tell her son no when he asked if they could do it.
It was a sweet gesture and she was proud of her son for even thinking of it.
Archer unbuckled in the back seat, grabbed the gift bag and hopped out, then ran toward Jayce.
“Archer, you don’t run away from me like that.”
“But it was only to Jayce and he saw me coming.”
“That’s not the point,” Jayce said. “Remember, Mom might always be in your corner, but she’s going to worry too.”
“Sorry, Mom.”
She put her hand on his shoulder. “I know you’re excited, but you need to follow the rules, especially in parking lots.”
“I will. I just want to see his reaction. This is for you, Jayce.”
Her son handed the bag over.
“Can I open it inside or do I need to do it now?”
“Inside is good,” she said.
The minute they were in their seats, Archer was urging him on. “Come on, look at it. I want to know what you think. I picked it out.”
“Well, if you picked it out, I’m sure I’m going to love it,” he said, pulling out the tissue paper.
There were three comic books in there. One Dog Man and two DC ones that she just glanced at when Archer snagged them.
“Now you can read them and catch up with me. I bet you like them as much as me. Those are two of my favorites.”
“Oh wow,” he said. “These are great. I can’t wait.” Jayce was already flipping through them. She got a soft look of appreciation over the gift. Then a smile sent her son’s way and how proud Archer was that Jayce loved it.
“Nope, not now,” Archer said. “You can read them and then when I see you again, we can talk about them.”
“We can do that,” he said, putting them back in the blue gift bag, then holding his fist out for Archer to tap his against.
“When will I see you again?” Archer said. “I have to go back to school on Monday and tonight I’m going to my grandparents to sleep over.”
“You are?” he asked, looking at her, their eyes locking.
“Yeah. He misses his grandparents. They wanted to see him and he asked if he could spend the night.”
“Mom is going to be alone. She’ll probably watch some movie with kissing in it.”
The heat filled her face.
“There isn’t anything wrong with a little romance,” Jayce said. “When you get older you’ll understand.”
Archer opened his mouth and stuck his finger in it, then gagged loudly.
“Stop that,” she said. “People are going to look and think there is something wrong with the food.”
“We haven’t eaten yet,” Archer argued.
An hour later, she was saying bye to Jayce, Archer giving him another fist pump, and her driving to her parents.
A message notification popped up on her screen in the car from Jayce, but no way she’d listen to it. Something inside of her said to wait until she could read it on her phone when she parked.
And the minute she pulled into her parents’ driveway, she looked at the message on her phone and saw Jayce asking if she wanted company tonight.
He’d know she read the message.
She’d never leave him on read.
Nor did she want to overthink this and replied yes, and she’d reach out when she was alone.
“What has you smiling?” her mother asked when the front door was opened.
“Grandma,” Archer said, giving a hug and then taking off in the house.
Good thing because there was no way she could say this in front of her son.
“I think I’ve got a date tonight?”
“You think?” her mother asked. “With who? Jayce?”
She smiled. “Yeah. We just left him.” She told her mother last night what the plan was today. “Archer mentioned I was alone and he texted and asked if I wanted company.”
“Hmmm,” her mother said.
“Say it.”
“Nothing to say. I’ve told you for years that you need to get out there again. I understand your reluctance. But now here is someone from your past you liked and got along with and your son adores.”
“I know. That’s what bothers me. It’s not just me, it’s Archer. I can handle being hurt, but he doesn’t need any more in his life.”
“You’re getting ahead of yourself again. You need to stop doing that.”
She sighed. “I do.”
“Just go with it. Seems to be working for you so far.”