“That’s a question for the boss lady,” he said.
“I’m sure Jayce has plans and you’re going to see him on Monday and every day after that next week.”
His mouth opened to say he didn’t have plans, but again, that would push it.
“I’ll text you later,” he said. “Just to make sure I’ve got everything I need.”
She smiled, her eyes brightening up his mood that he was driving away from them, then nodded her head and shut the passenger door.
He hadn’t done that with a woman in his life ever. Just let them get out and drive away.
It sure was hard to break a lifetime of habits.
When he got home fifteen minutes later, his mother was in the kitchen making a cup of coffee.
“Hi,” she said. “Have a good time tonight out?”
He hadn’t said what he was doing or with who. They were being good about not asking, but he might as well let them know so they didn’t think he was blowing off work next week.
Not that he decided either, but he was leaning toward staying. It might do him well to reset his life as his parents suggested.
“I did. I won’t be in the office next week. Remember how I said I ran into Farrah Hughes? Lane. Farrah Lane?”
“Yes,” his mother said. She pulled her cup of coffee out from under the spout and then he put one there for him. Caffeine didn’t seem to bother him.
“She has no one to watch her son next week. Guess her ex-husband canceled spring break. I offered to do it. I went to see them last Saturday and then dinner tonight to spend some time with Archer. He’s a good kid. It will be fun. Just didn’t want you to think I’m blowing anything off, but I committed to her.”
“That’s wonderful, Jayce. I’m glad to hear it. She’s always been a good girl. Your father and I have seen her at the doctor’s a time or two.”
“You could have warned me,” he said. “I didn’t have her when I went, but I saw her. I overheard her talking to her ex about the canceled trip and offered to do it.”
His mother hummed in her throat. He knew that look. Maybe he was okay with it because he was thinking the same way.
“She’s a very attractive woman.”
“She is,” he said, smirking, then picked his coffee up for a sip.
“Are you doing this because of her son or to get closer to her?”
He could lie, but his mother would know the truth. “Both. He’s a great kid. She’s in a bind. I liked and got along with her years ago. She seems to be the same person as back then, only different. Can’t really put my finger on it.”
“That about sums you up too,” his mother said. “Your core values and personalities are there, but you’re more mature. You’ve lived more years and had ups and downs.”
He let out a breath. “Yeah. Tell me about it.”
“Why don’t you come into the living room and talk to Dad and me for a bit, unless you’ve got something to do.”
“My time is your time.”
He followed his mother to the back of the house into the family room. His father had a glass of scotch next to him. Not something he saw often during the week.
“Good,” his father said. “We want to talk about work and salary. If you decide to come work for us, you should know what you’ll be paid. I’m sure it’s less than you were making for the Hornets.”
“Life was different there,” he said. “I got paid extra being on the road. I’m not counting that.”
“Good, because we aren’t either,” his mother said, laughing.
“Your brother and sister make the same.”
