“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.”
