“Shit yeah,” he whispered, then looked around to make sure her son wasn’t close to hear. “But who does he like? Or read?”
“He lovesDog Man. That’s his favorite. Most things DC. You’re good if you go that route.”
“Thanks,” he said and moved his neck side to side, then lifted and lowered his shoulder and winced.
“You okay?” she asked.
“I think I pulled something in my back, but don’t tell Archer. I like having him think I walk on water.”
She moved closer and said, “Can I?”
“If you can fix it, go for it.”
She felt around his neck and his shoulder, found some knotted tight muscles but nothing else serious. “Lift your right arm.”
He moved it up and around like she said, almost yelped when she pressed hard in the middle of the knot with her thumb.
“Are you trying to kill me?”
“Don’t be a baby,” she said, grinning, but he couldn’t see her. “You’ve got a knot there. I can work it out. You know, payment for the wear and tear my kid has on your aging body.”
“Very funny,” he said. “But go ahead.”
He let out a groan under his breath while she worked on the knot and felt it giving way.
After a minute she heard Archer coming down the stairs and walked away, opened the cabinet and pulled out two Tylenol with a glass of water. “It will take the edge off and be fine for your stomach.”
“Thanks. It already feels better.”
“Alternate heat and ice on that spot and you’ll be better tomorrow. Just a little sore.”
“What’s sore?” Archer asked.
“You might have worn Jayce out.”
“Not as much as my butthole. I think the ice cream hit the release button.”
“Archer!”
“What? You’re the one who says that happens when you eat too much. The release button lets go.”
Nothing could mortify her more. “I mean it happens to you.”
“But you said it happens for you too. Does that happen to you, Jayce? If you eat a lot, the button pops and you have to run to the bathroom?”
“The joy of having a boy in the house,” she said.
“Gabe and I always grossed Jocelyn out talking about those things.”
“Is Gabe your brother? You’ve talked about your twin.”
“Gabe is my brother. He’s older than me.”
“I want to be an older brother someday. Will I be, Mom?”
“I think your mother has had a long day and probably wants to change out of her clothes. You’ve emptied your stomach and can make room for dinner now.”
“That’s right. What’s for dinner, Mom?”
