Because maybe it wasn’t fine for him either, but there wasn’t anything he could do to change it.
38
LIKES YOU MORE
Eleven days later, Farrah got the dreaded call she’d been waiting for. Tucker only ever texted when he had Archer, if that.
The entire Disney trip lifted her son’s spirits and had him talking about his father in texts in ways that she’d never heard before.
The amount of fun they were having.
The trips they went on.
The adventures they did.
It wasn’t just about learning, but experiencing.
Was her son going on crazy rides and playing sports? Nope.
But he was having a ball and learning that life was about trying new things.
She couldn’t have been any happier than she was and the pictures and videos she’d gotten eased her heart and soothed her soul about the time away from him.
Tucker and Archer returned to Wilmington yesterday, with Tucker going to work today. Two more full days, and on Saturday she’d see her son again.
“Hi, Tucker. Is everything okay with Archer?”
It was six and she was cooking dinner for Jayce. He was on his computer and turned his head when she picked up the phone.
“He’s fine. I’m going to pick him up in a minute.”
“Where is he?” she asked, frowning.
“If you must know, my neighbor two down has a few kids around Archer’s age. He’s a colleague of mine and his wife stays home with the kids. She’s watching Archer until Saturday.”
“That’s wonderful,” she said. “I’m sure he’s thrilled with that arrangement.”
“I’m sure he is. What I’m not thrilled with is the fact that you’ve got a boyfriend who spends enough time around my son that it’s all I’ve heard for days.”
Her shoulders dropped. “And it’s taken you this long to call me about it? And I’m not sure why you even care because you’ve dated since we divorced. Oh wait, you were datingwhilewe were married.”
“I don’t give a shit who you fuck,” Tucker said. “Just don’t get my kid involved in it.”
Her face had to be as red as it felt because Jayce was up and next to her in a heartbeat.
“What did he say?” he whispered.
She waved her hand to Jayce. She didn’t need that macho behavior right now.
“I won’t be talked to that way,” she said. “What you do with women and how you treat them is on you. I happen to be in a relationship with Jayce. It’s been several months and we love each other. Archer loves being around Jayce. They get along great.”
There was silence on the other end. “How long has Archer known?”
“Archer has known Jayce longer than we’ve been together. Because you know, you canceled his spring break trip and leftme in a bind. I’ve known Jayce for years and he offered to watch Archer. They were friends first.”
“Bullshit,” Tucker yelled. Must be he was home because he’d never lose his temper in front of anyone. “No one does that. There had to be more going on or he was using our son to get to you, and if that is the case, I don’t want him in Archer’s life.”
“You have no right to tell me who I can and can’t be in a relationship with. No one was using anyone else. He’s a great guy who I was friends with in high school. I grew up around him and his family who are prominent people in Durham.”
