The thought flits through my mind before I shove it quickly away.
I’ve traveled far enough down memory lane tonight, thank you very much.
TheEagleswin!Thoughit was a real nail-biter of a game, with the teams still tied at the end of the fourth quarter. Luckily, our boys pulled it off in overtime with Matty making an impressive catch—call me a biased mom if you must—and passing it off to his buddy Wilder, who ran it in for the winning touchdown. Alex and I hang around long enough to congratulate him, waiting by the door to the changing rooms until he comes out, freshly showered and grinning from ear to ear. I’m so proud of that boy. Both of my boys, but especially Matty, tonight, fortraining so hard and giving it his all. Since it’s a Friday, his curfew isn’t until midnight, so he heads out with Priya and his friends for a couple of hours of celebratory fun.
Alex is quiet on the drive home, but as we go to part ways in the entry—me to my room for a long bath and he to his, no doubt for some video gaming—he surprises me by touching my shoulder.
“Mom?”
“Yeah?” I turn to face him questioningly.
“I don’t love the idea of you and that guy.” His mouth twists in distaste as he adds, “Riley.”
“Okay …”
He sighs heavily. “But I want you to be happy. And … I don’t like thinking of you being lonely. If he makes you happy, I’ll get over it, or whatever.”
I’m at once touched and amused. Maybe a little scared, too, that I’m being given the go-ahead when I don’t even know what I want.
“You’ll get over it?”
He shrugs. “I’ll get used to it.”
“Thanks, bud,” I smile. “But I’m not sure if hecanmake me happy.” I pause, unsure of whether I should say the rest, but I decide to continue being honest with my son. “I’m starting to think I might like to find out, though. Are you sure you’d be okay with that? Just— just us spending some time together. Maybe.”
“Okayis a stretch right now,” Alex grimaces. “But yeah. I will be. You deserve it, Mom. That is, if this guy treats you right. Hebetter.”
I move in for a hug, wrapping my arms tightly around my boy and pressing my nose into his shoulder, again marveling at how tall he’s gotten.
“Love you,” I whisper into his shirt.
He grunts, then succumbs to my mothering, raising his arms to hug me back. “Love you too, Mom.”
We break apart, and he moves down the hallway towards his room.
“I’ll let you know, alright?” I call to his retreating form. “If … if it becomes something more than friendship.”
He gives a wave of acknowledgement over his shoulder, clearly ready to move on from this topic.
“Goodnight,” I add. “Don’t stay up too late.”
He snorts. He’ll likely sleep half the day away tomorrow, but all he says in response is “Night.”
20
Riley
Riley
[image of a soaking wet Connor with bloodshot eyes and his hair standing up in tufts]
Steph
Oh, gosh, what a wild man! Lol!
Riley
I knew if I pulled the cute dog card, I'd get a responsefrom you!
