Farrah was on the patio now and close enough to hear the conversation.
He wasn’t sure how to answer these things. What he wanted to do was slam Archer’s father, but that wouldn’t be good for anyone.
“I think you need to be the best version of you. You’ve got traits from both of your parents but hone in on a combination of them and what works for you to be happy.”
“Mom says that too. That I have to be me and not her or Dad.”
“That’s right,” he said, looking over to see Farrah grinning as she turned the chicken. She heard what was said but was pretending to not pay attention.
He wasn’t sure if that was good or bad and was just going with it.
“Did you play a lot of sports? Mom did. She played basketball and volleyball and ran track and then played softball some years.”
“Your mother was wonderful at a lot of sports and changed it up. I tried a bunch, but basketball and baseball were my two favorites. The rest was just fun.”
“Did you want to play baseball in college? What position? I don’t want to be a pitcher or one of the bases. I like to be in the outfield.”
Which was odd for most kids. They liked playing one of the hot spots for attention.
“I played first base because I could catch well. Just stand there and catch most of the time. But I was in the outfield for a bit. I was good, but not good enough. I played to my strengths. Maybe I liked the contact of basketball and the activity level more.”
“Jayce had a lot of energy to spare. Kind of like you, Archer.”
“Your mother was the same,” he said. “Which is why she didn’t play softball long.”
“Jayce is right. I didn’t like standing around. I’d much rather play a sport that has me active the whole time I’m in.”
“Let’s get our game in before dinner,” Archer said. “You go first.”
He loved how the kid wasn’t selfish in the least.
“This time,” he said. “Next it’s you.”
The two of them went back and forth scoring points. He went light on Archer because he wasn’t a dick, but he didn’t give the game over easily either.
It was more about the interaction that the kid seemed to crave who obviously never got it from his father and might never.
“Dinner is done,” Farrah said. “Archer, go wash your hands.”
“I need to do it too,” Jayce said when Archer ran ahead of him into the house.
“Not yet,” she said, turning her head to make sure her son wasn’t around, then laying her lips to his. “Thanks for saying what you did to Archer.”
“Thanks for the kiss,” he said, giving her another one. Which meant this was still not out in the open in front of her son. “And what did I say to Archer? You’ll have to be more specific.”
“We had a call from Tucker when we got home and Archer was on the receiving end of a lecture over his grades.”
He should have weighed his words but found he couldn’t. “They seemed pretty decent to me.”
“They are. But it’s the fact that you told him to hone his skills and do what he’s good at. He is. Life is a balance and I’m giving it to him. If Tucker doesn’t like it, he can be more active in his son’s life.”
Not what Jayce wanted to hear. “Do you want that?”
“Selfishly, hell no. But I want what is best for my son. I don’t believe that is it, but I can’t deny it.”
“You look troubled,” he said, staring into her chocolate eyes. They weren’t happy right now and it told him something else happened, but he wasn’t so sure he’d get the opportunity to find out what.
“Long day. I’m glad you’re here though.”
