15. Knowing His Business

15

KNOWING HIS BUSINESS

“ T y,” Michael’s mother said on Saturday. “Go see what Grandpa put on the patio for you.”

It was three and he was dropping his son off for the night knowing he wouldn’t be disturbed. He could relax and enjoy himself and not stress his phone was going to ring and he’d have to disappoint Kelly on another date.

Not that Tuesday was a disappointment because it didn’t seem either of them felt that way when she left after dinner.

Sometimes conversations were going to be hard and he felt they were both mature enough to talk them through and had.

“What did you buy this time?”

“Your father got him a soccer net so they can kick the ball around. Not sure if that is Ty’s thing or not, but he was talking about it last time he was here. It keeps them both entertained and tires him out.”

“Tires who out?” he asked “Dad or Ty?”

“Both,” his mother said, grinning. “Then they are both sleeping early and I can watch what I want on TV.”

He laughed. “You sent Ty out there for a reason. What is going on?”

“You’re dating someone, aren’t you?”

“What makes you ask that?”

“Because last Saturday you asked if we could be a backup if Electra canceled because you had plans.”

“Nothing odd there,” he said.

He’d been known to go out and have a good time with his friends. Just because he hadn’t in a while didn’t mean anything. Which reminded him he should see if Owen wanted to come over for a beer soon. It’d been a good month and his best friend was going to be ticked to learn Michael was dating someone and didn’t know beforehand.

“No,” his mother said. “But you want Ty to stay with us tonight. You don’t normally do two weeks in a row. And if it’s for work, you say that and come back.”

“If it’s too much trouble, I’ll come back in a few hours.”

“Stop,” his mother said. “You know it’s not too much trouble and has never been. I’m just asking if you’re dating someone. Maybe I want my son to be happy and if he’s asking us to babysit, that means he’s trying.”

There was no reason to hide this. They knew he dated. Or assumed it. He didn’t often talk much about it because things didn’t pan out most times.

“I am dating someone,” he said.

“Tell me about her if you’ve got some time.”

He looked at his watch. He was going to Kelly’s tonight. She was cooking for him and she asked if he could spend the night. There was no reason to say no. But he said he’d show up at four and it was only twenty minutes away.

“I’ve got some time,” he said. “Her name is Kelly Gifford.”

“Where did you meet?”

“She works for Cade at Fierce.”

“Oh,” his mother said. “Is this one of Jolene’s things?”

He snorted. “No. Not that either of us are aware of. And we aren’t telling anyone right yet so we aren’t bugged about it.”

The more he and Kelly talked about it, the more he realized that he didn’t want that headache of everyone asking him things or knowing his business.

Even making Jolene comments that he’d heard with other couples that had been set up in the past.

“Alex has no idea?” his mother asked.

“No,” he said. “She’s a little busy right now.”

“True. And a lot of other things on her mind too,” his mother said. “How long have you been dating?”

“A few weeks,” he said. “It’s been a rocky start with all my plans getting canceled.”

“Because of Electra?” his mother asked. “But since you’re going out tonight, how does Kelly feel about everything?”

“She’s good with it. Maybe knowing each other for a few years helped. There weren’t a lot of secrets in the fact that I had custody of Ty.”

“But she didn’t know the events around it?”

“No,” he said. “She knows now. She’s fine with it. No issues.”

“I find that hard to believe,” his mother said. “Everyone has issues.”

He let out a sigh. “They do at some point. I expect if things build up it might come up. Right now, she’s very understanding and I’m trying to make up for it.”

“You shouldn’t have to make up for things out of your control.”

“Mom,” he said. “I appreciate the support and help, maybe not always the advice. But I do have to try harder if I want someone in my life. I’m not kissing ass, but I understand my situation is different and not ideal. Most women would have walked after being canceled twice in a row and then their date being interrupted last Saturday.”

“Which was ridiculous and completely like Electra.”

“I can’t change her. I can only deal with what happens. I wasn’t going to let Ty stay there screaming sharks were going to eat him.”

“Of course not,” his mother said. “I’ve got a spray bottle with peppermint essential oil in it in case it happens here. I might just spray the room down anyway beforehand.”

He rolled his eyes over that but appreciated that his parents played along. “Thanks. No problems again. I don’t have to worry about him watching anything to give him a nightmare here or eating so much junk food he’ll throw up.”

“Never,” his mother said. “Sorry if you feel I nag at times. We just want you happy.”

“You do nag but in the best way possible. I want to be happy too,” he said.

His mother leaned up, then pulled him down, so she could kiss him on the cheek. “Good,” she said. “I’m glad you’re trying and not just out there jumping in bed with women.”

“I don’t need to talk to you about that,” he said. “I didn’t do it before.”

“I know,” his mother said. “You dated Electra. Not sure what you saw in her.”

“I was young and stupid and she was a good time. She’s not a horrible person.”

“I’ve never said she was,” his mother said. “Just like you said, irresponsible. She hasn’t grown up and may never. She’s not wife or mother material.”

“I wasn’t thinking those things about her,” he said. “Which is why it only lasted a month.”

“Are you thinking those things with Kelly?”

His head went back and forth a bit. “She is wife and mother material. No doubt. It’s what she wants with someone. Whether I’m that someone or not is yet to be determined on both sides. I have no intention of her meeting Ty just yet. There is no reason for it.”

“But you would introduce the two of them in the future?” his mother asked.

“Yes,” he said without hesitation. “When the time is right. But now, we are having fun and getting to know each other. I’m not going to bring women into Ty’s life.”

“Like Electra has brought men?” his mother asked.

He didn’t need the reminder. “That should be a thing of the past. She knows better than to set up a date to come over when she has Ty for her two overnights a month. And if she loses track of the dates, she doesn’t get him. It’s off limits.”

His mother laughed. “How many tears did she shed when you told her that?”

It’d happened again about six months ago when he picked Ty up the next day and saw a guy sitting at the kitchen table. His son said the man had come for dinner and spent the night while he spent most of the time in his room.

“None,” he said. “She knows when I’m pissed and that wasn’t the first time.”

“Don’t be surprised if she just cancels on taking Ty the next time,” his mother said.

“It wouldn’t be the first time she’s canceled and it’s fine. I’d rather that. Now I have to go unless there is anything else?”

“No,” his mother said.

He walked to the backyard to see Ty kicking a soccer ball around with his father blocking the goal.

“Ty, I’m leaving. Can I get a hug?”

Ty stopped kicking the ball and came running over, launching himself into his arms like he did when he was a toddler. His son always knew he’d be caught.

He lifted Ty, kissed him, then set him down.

“Bye, Dad,” Ty said.

“Bye, Bud. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Grandpa said Grandma is making chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast. Are you going to be here for them?”

“If I’m not, don’t wait on me,” he said. There was no way he was rushing over here at seven for breakfast when he knew Ty would be up wanting them.

“See you tomorrow,” his father said.

His mother walked him out the front door. “Have fun tonight.”

He closed one eye at her. “Thanks.”

He drove to Kelly’s apartment, parked by her car, got his overnight bag out and shut the hatch. Ty would have said something if he’d seen it in the backseat.

He’d already texted he was in the parking lot, so by the time he got to the entrance, Kelly was standing there opening the security door in leggings and a T-shirt with athletic sneakers on.

“You need to change,” she said.

“I can’t believe you want to do this on our date,” he said.

“You told me you’d show me things. You can do it here and then any single guy will know I’m taken and not even come near me.”

There was part of him that liked her thinking when it came to that, but he’d been surprised she said she wanted to exercise together. For him to show her how to use the weights.

He figured he’d show her at his house. He still could do that.

“Let me go change,” he said.

He followed her to her place, then brought his bag to her room. She opened a drawer in the dresser. “You can put your clothes in here if you want.”

“Thanks,” he said.

“I guessed you didn’t like wrinkled clothing since you’ve made comments about Ty’s stuff before.”

“I’m not anal about it,” he said.

“I didn’t say that. Just offering up a drawer.”

She was smirking when she said it, but he wouldn’t take offense to it either. No reason to.

“Are you going to stand there and watch me change?”

“Yes,” she said. “I am. Just like I’m going to help you get those clothes off when we are done. We can get sweaty in the gym, then come back here and clean up...together.”

“I like that you plan ahead,” he said.

He pulled his shirt off and dropped his jeans, then grabbed the T-shirt he’d taken out of his bag and the shorts to pull up.

When he turned, she lifted her shirt and flashed a black sports bra at him. “Nothing sexy here. I don’t have a ton on top, but I like to keep them strapped down. Working out next to you is going to turn me on and we don’t need other people noticing my nips.”

He started to laugh. “But it’s okay if I get turned on and someone might notice that with me.”

“Don’t you own a pair of those compression shorts?”

“I don’t,” he said. “I work out at home and not much is turning me on there. But I might need a pair after today.”

“I think you’ve got a lot of body control,” she said. “I won’t tease you too much and I’ll keep my T-shirt on. I don’t like to be gawked at.”

“Thanks for that,” he said. But the T-shirt was still fitted to her body and resting at her hips. Hips that were snug in her leggings. He was pretty sure she didn’t have underwear on or it was a thong because he didn’t see any lines.

He wasn’t letting his mind go there.

This was going to be one interesting date.