Page 21 of Happy Trails & Honey Pots

“A minute.”

“Were you listening to my conversation?”

“Sorry, I would have gone back inside, but I was able to sneak out without anyone noticing, and I was scared if I went back in, I wouldn’t be so lucky a second time.”

Before I could respond, the door opened, and AJ walked out. “Mom, can you Zelle me ten bucks for the arcade?”

“What happened to your allowance?”

He glanced down at his feet. “I spent it.”

“On what?” I asked, then noticed his cheeks turning red.

Kendall. He’d clearly spent his allowance on Kendall.

I pulled my phone out of my purse and opened the app. “Car wash interior and exterior.”

AJ nodded.

My finger hovered over the transfer button. “That means cleaning out the trash that you stuff in the door and vacuuming the crumbs from the seat.”

“I will. I promise.”

I hit send, and AJ’s phone dinged, indicating the money had been transferred.

“Thanks, Mom.” He smiled and ran back inside.

“He gets an allowance,” Miles observed when the door shut.

“Yep.”

“How much? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“Ten dollars a week.”

“You’re a good mom.”

“Because I give him an allowance.” I chuckled.

“No, just… because of what everyone has said about you and what I’ve seen. And what a good kid AJ is. You’re doing a really good job with him. I saw him out on the field tonight. He’s a good teammate. And in there with the games, he’s a good friend. He asked for that ten bucks because he gave his money to his friend Stevie so he could have lunch money this week. I heard them talking on my way out.”

I’d heard that Stevie’s mom lost her job. And here I thought AJ had spent it on Kendall. Miles had known what was going on with AJ, and I hadn’t. This movie, all of it, had made me take my eye off the ball. I needed to get my priorities straight and makesure I knew what was going on with my kid and his friends. If Stevie needed lunches, that shouldn’t fall on AJ.

“I better get back.” I started to walk around Miles.

“Actually, I came out to speak to you if you have a second.”

I stopped and looked up. We were only about a foot away from one another. The same distance we were in the kitchen.

Soft music played through the outdoor speakers, and string lights hung above our heads as the ocean waves crashed against the shores down below the deck, giving the atmosphere a very romantic vibe.

“What?” Even though we were outside, I was finding it difficult to breathe.

“I just wanted you to know that I bought the rights toFallen Hero.”

My brow furrowed. “You did?”

“Yes. And I’ve decided that unless I have your blessing, I’m not going to move forward with the project.”

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