Page 39 of Assigned

“Sure, that will be great.”

He shoots her a thumbs-up, then grabs the pitcher off the buffet and fills her glass. He then fills mine and places the pitcher back where he found it. He leaves the room after giving us both a deep bow.

Riley slaps the table, full-on snort-laughing. “Oh my God, where did that kid get his sense of humor from? Certainly not you.”

“Tony. Hangs out way too much with him.”

Riley picks up her fork and digs into the meal. I wait, wanting to know what she thinks. Her eyes close as she chews. “This is so good. You have to give me the recipe.”

My muscles relax a bit. Finally did something right. “Found it in a book of recipes for people with Crohn’s.”

Riley jerks her head in my direction. “You... got a book of what to cook? For me?”

I nod.

She blinks rapidly, but I catch how her eyes grow wet. Definitely did the right thing.

We eat while we chat about her day and some of the kids she worked with. I fill her in on my day, at least what I’m allowed to tell her. Mason comes in and checks on us every so often. This time when he pops in, he runs over and gives me a hug, then turns to Riley. “Wanna play video games when you are done eating?”

“Maybe, but I’m not sure what your dad has planned.”

“He’s gotta clean up.” Mason turns to me, the most evil smirk on his face. “I can’t because I might break the expensive plates.”

Yup, definitely influenced by my best friend. Martinez is going to hear about this. “Why don’t you go set Riley’s game up? She’ll be down once we’re done.”

Mason nods and runs off.

“Hope you don’t mind. Haven’t seen my son this happy since he and Lisa moved out. He’s almost like his old self.” My throat tightens. If only I could fix whatever is going on with him, make it so he’s always this happy.

Riley takes my hand in hers. “Moving had to have been tough. I’m sure being back here makes him feel comfortable. It’s where he grew up. Maybe he just needs a little more time to adjust to his new school and for them to adjust to him.”

“You’re probably right.”

We go back to eating, but my thoughts drift back to my son. I love him with all my heart. If I’d been around more, instead of being gone so much on deployments and for training, Mason might still live here. Lisa might not have left. I swallow hard, forcing the fish I’d been chewing past the growing knot in my throat.

Going forward, I vow to do better by my son. I have to. And from how much he’s taken to Riley, that means making sure I do right by her as well.

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