“Grandma,” Archer said, giving a hug and then taking off in the house.
Good thing because there was no way she could say this in front of her son.
“I think I’ve got a date tonight?”
“You think?” her mother asked. “With who? Jayce?”
She smiled. “Yeah. We just left him.” She told her mother last night what the plan was today. “Archer mentioned I was alone and he texted and asked if I wanted company.”
“Hmmm,” her mother said.
“Say it.”
“Nothing to say. I’ve told you for years that you need to get out there again. I understand your reluctance. But now here is someone from your past you liked and got along with and your son adores.”
“I know. That’s what bothers me. It’s not just me, it’s Archer. I can handle being hurt, but he doesn’t need any more in his life.”
“You’re getting ahead of yourself again. You need to stop doing that.”
She sighed. “I do.”
“Just go with it. Seems to be working for you so far.”
16
NEW FOR ME
“Hi,” Farrah said when she opened the front door at six.
Four hours after he’d left her and Archer.
He’d taken a risk sending that text, and the minute he had, he worried she’d play it in the car where Archer could hear it.
But she’d said she’d had a feeling it’d be best to wait and had.
Rather than go out to dinner, when he was sick of eating out, Farrah offered to cook.
She’d done enough today, he’d said, but deep down he was happy to have the uninterrupted time here and not the rush of having a table turned over for the restaurant.
“Nice to see you again,” she said, laughing.
Jayce came in smiling just like her.
He couldn’t remember the last time he had been unsure of what a woman was thinking.
But that she’d contacted him for the day out, and then Archer gave him that gift and wanted to see him again, led him to believe she didn’t want him walking away.
“The same. So, I think maybe we need a little chat.”
“That’s what I always liked about you,” she said. “I was going to say the same thing.”
“Phew,” he said. “Let’s get the awkwardness out of the way.”
“I’m going to light the grill. I hope fish is good. I’ve got some planks to grill it that way. I made a pasta salad to have with it. Just an easy meal. A light one too in case the sauce wasn’t a good choice.”
“I’m doing okay, but I appreciate it. I’m used to eating out a lot but try to be as healthy as I can. The team normally has private chefs with them so it was easy enough.”
He missed that perk. He could cook, but it was nice to have someone else do it too.
