“Really?” Tyler felt himself smile. “Fishing?”
“Ice fishing,” Jamie retorted. “It’s not the same.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” Tyler was ravenous for more. “Chocolate or vanilla?”
“Chocolate.”
“Order at a Chinese restaurant?”
“Egg drop soup and General Tso’s Chicken.”
Tyler hummed. He was grinning so hard his cheeks hurt. “Good choice.”
“Go-to hype song?” Jamie asked, his own teasing smile catching the dim light.
““Naturally.””
Jamie barked out a surprised laugh. “Selena Gomez? Not what I expected.”
“What did you expect?”
“Honestly? Someone I’d never heard of.”
Tyler laughed then, letting his head fall back.Fuck, it felt good to do this. To have a playful conversation with someone.
Rowan marched back into the tree, his arms overflowing with large, toy vegetables made out of felt. “Papa, Jamie, I have your lunch,” he announced. He dropped the whole pile on the middle of the floor. “Papa, you get beets, and Jamie, you get carrots.”
“What about you?” Tyler asked, shifting forward to look curiously at the pile of pretend produce. “What’s your lunch?”
“I had cabbages,” Rowan said, looking at him like the answer was obvious.
Tyler saw Jamie cover his mouth to hide his grin, and he felt his own smile stretch his cheeks. “Of course,” he said. “Cabbage makes an excellent lunch.”
Tyler grabbed a beet, pretending to bite into it. Across from him, Jamie did the same.
It was odd, sharing this with someone else. It was so outside of the scope of what parenthood was typically like for him. These were the moments that belonged to him and Rowan. Just the two of them. And now there was a large intruder with a blonde mustache licking his lips and humming like the felted carrot was the most delicious thing he’d ever tasted.
It feltdomestic.
“I’ve got to head out soon,” Jamie said, and he sounded apologetic. “Meeting with the doc for my hand. But,” he suddenly looked nervous. “I wanted to see if you’d like to come with Rowan to the practice arena this weekend. The team is home this weekend, and Mitch’ll have the kids there to give Layla a break. I’m not sure if you know how to skate, but we have a ton of gear if you and Rowan wanted to try it.”
Tyler blinked at him. It was…Fuck, this was exactly the kind of thing he was hoping to add to their life. Rowan had loved playing with Mitch and Layla’s kids.
“I work Saturday,” Tyler said, apologetic.
Jamie was nonplussed. “Sunday morning is off for them, if you’re up for it.”
“Rowan’s never skated,” he said. “Is that alright?”
“Of course,” Jamie grinned, a dimple divoting his cheek. “There’s nothing cuter than a kid learning how to skate. I’m a legend at teaching them. Helped teach all of Mitch’s kids.”
Tyler worried his bottom lip for a moment. “Is it safe?”
“He’ll be in a helmet,” Jamie reassured. “I’ll take care of him.”
Tyler believed him. He couldn’t explain why, but he trusted Rowan would be safe with Jamie. Something about this man who commanded such physical presence and strength also promised gentleness. Protection.
Tyler exhaled. “We’ll be there.”
