They cleaned up dinner and left for the ice cream shop, getting in line with a bunch of other families.
Seemed the night for it.
“Archer.”
Jayce turned his head to see another kid walking over with a sibling and parents. “Hey, Colin. We’re getting ice cream with my mom’s boyfriend, Jayce.”
Guess that was a good way to get it out there.
Farrah flushed some. “Hi, Melanie, Rick. This is Jayce McCarthy.”
“I thought you looked familiar,” Melanie said.
He didn’t recognize her. “I’m sorry. Have we met?” He shook her hand.
“I saw you walking around with a bunch of people not that long ago in the building your family might be buying. I’m a nurse there. Our office plans on moving to one of the new offices when it’s done. At least that is the rumor if the sale goes through. I hope it does.”
Not that he’d talk about that now.
“Got it,” he said. “We are in the early stages of it.”
“It’s going to be great,” Melanie said. “I know it. We’re all really excited too.”
“That’s good to hear.”
They moved up in line while Colin and his family got behind them.
He hadn’t expected to feel pride over that conversation and being part of his family’s business.
Guess there were more surprises this night than he’d thought.
And when he got home a little after nine after giving Farrah another kiss at the door. Just a peck so that he didn’t break a rule, his parents were in the living room watching TV.
Might as well pull the cat out of the bag and let it run around and have some fun.
Not that he didn’t suspect his parents knew. Or at least his mother.
“How was your night?” he asked when he sat down.
“The same as every Friday night,” his father said. “Two old people relaxing after a long day of work.”
“You’re hardly old and you know it. I just wanted to let you know what Mom already suspects. I’m dating Farrah Lane.”
He watched his mother smile. “That’s nice to hear. I wasn’t so sure and was very careful what I said yesterday.”
“But you said enough and it was time to let Archer know.”
“So you only kept it quiet for him?” his mother asked. “No one knew?”
“Farrah’s parents knew. They had Archer for the night a few weeks ago when she and I went on a date alone, but we haven’t had a chance for one since.”
“Does that bother you?” his father asked.
“Nope. Archer is a great kid. They are a package deal and I know it. We all talked tonight and I got the rules laid out in order to be his mother’s boyfriend.”
His mother laughed. “That’s very sweet. Are you going to follow them?”
“To the letter.”
