Page 49 of Fierce-Michael

“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. Ihave 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.

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