“Thanks for everything.”
“Any time.”
Following Cresley’s directions, Carson drove them home to a house on Mulholland Drive that clung to the side of a steep hill.
Carson walked them in to make sure no uninvited guests were waiting inside.
The back side of the house was all glass, with a stunning view of the city below.“This is quite a spot.”
“I never get tired of the view, especially at night.”
“It’s like a million twinkling stars,” Ty added.“Do you want to see my room, Carson?”
Carson glanced at Cresley, who smiled.
“Mr.Carson.”
“That makes me feel kinda old.Carson is fine with me if you’re okay with it.”
“He’s gonna teach me how to surf, Mom.I can’t call him Mr.Carson when we’re surfing.”
“He does have a point,” Carson said, earning a big grin from Ty.
“How has ninety minutes of ice cream undone seven years of parenting?”
“We’re guys, Mom.It’s just how it is.”
“Is that right?”
“Yep.”Ty took Carson’s hand and gave a strong tug.“Come see my room.”
“Is it okay with you?”he asked Cresley.
“Of course.Go right ahead while I pour myself a big drink.”
“Put some ice on those knuckles, too, killer.”
She laughed.“Good idea.”
Carson let Ty pull him down the hallway to his room on the left side.Right away, he saw that the boy was a huge fan of LA sports teams, with Dodgers, Lakers, Rams and Kings swag on the walls, along with a life-size poster of LeBron James.Mixed in with the sports were robots, Legos and superheroes.
“What do you think?”Ty asked.
Carson took a long, assessing look at every detail, from the Spider-Man comforter to the hat collection for each team to the signed jersey from Clippers star Kawhi Leonard.“I think you’re a man of many interests.”
Ty smiled, pleased with the review.“I do like a lot of things.Have you ever ridden on an electric scooter?”
Carson sat on the floor for a closer look at a remote-controlled truck with all the bells and whistles.He would’ve loved one of those as a kid.“Can’t say I have.”
“My friend Jonah has one, but my mom won’t let me go on it because she says it’s super dangerous.It goes pretty fast.”
“You should listen to her.Moms know things.”
“My mom knows all the things.None of the other moms can name the starting lineup of the Dodgers or know what it means to be offside in hockey.She’s super cool.”
“Sounds like it.”Carson was impressed that she knew the Dodgers lineup.“Which sports do you play?”
“All of them.Little League baseball in the summer, flag football in the fall, rec league basketball and hockey in the winter.”
