“I made you breakfast. You need to eat,” I said firmly.
He let out a big sigh. “Fine.”
He tossed his book to the side and got up. I followed him out. When he was in one of these moods, it was better to leave him alone. He’d settle down eventually. I left him in the kitchen and went back to do laundry. When I returned, his half-eaten meal was still sitting on the table and he was gone. I carried his stack of folded clean clothes into his room. He was back on his bed reading.
“Why don’t you get dressed?” I said in a cheery tone. “We’re going to the arcade in fifteen minutes.”
“I don’t want to go,” he said.
“Okay, how about we go to the park?”
“I don’t want to go,” he muttered.
“What would you like to do?” I asked.
“I want to read my book.”
I had to take a deep breath. “Okay, how about you read for a little bit and then we’ll go to the mall? I need to get you new shoes. We can stop by the game store and see if there is anything new out.”
He didn’t answer me. I looked at him and waited. “Jace?”
“What?”
“We’re going to the mall later,” I told him.
“I don’t want to go.”
“Fine, read. I’m going to clean house. When you’re ready to go, I’ll be waiting.”
I walked out of the room so I didn’t have to hear his silence. I was dreading the teenage years. I wasn’t going to take it personally. I turned on some music and started dusting. It gave me time to think. I might have overreacted a little. Nash’s heart was in the right place. I understood why he wanted to show Jace how to defend himself. I appreciated that but to high-five him? That was not okay.
Now I had to figure out whether I was going to let Nash and Jace hang out together anymore. After yesterday, I wasn’t even sure if Nash would want to spend time with Jace. It wasn’t like he had anything invested into spending time with him. We weren’t officially dating. The quickies at the office didn’t promise anything.
“Easy come, easy go,” I said with a sigh.
I couldn’t be sad about it. There were never any promises between us. I had fun. The fun was over. I couldn’t be upset about it. It was for the best. Nash getting close to Jace was bound to lead to disaster. I had just been telling Joss I was uncomfortable with the two of them having a relationship. This was for the best. I had to keep telling myself that.
There was a knock at the door. I couldn’t explain why, but I hoped it was Nash. I pulled my hair out of the messy bun it was in and shook it out. I walked to the door with the intention of looking casual. When I opened the door, it was to find Joss and Caitlyn. “Oh, it’s you.”
Joss burst into laughter. “Gee, I feel loved.”
“Sorry, come in. What brings you guys by?”
“We brought donuts,” she said and held up a bag.
“Oh, thank god,” I breathed.
She gave me a funny look. “Were you having a donut crisis?”
“Caitlyn, why don’t you take a donut to Jace?” I asked. “He’s in his room.”
“Okay. He likes the one with the sprinkles. I picked it for him.”
I smiled at her. “That was very nice of you. Thank you.”
She carried the bag to the kitchen, removed the donut, and went to his room. “You look like you are ready for a drink,” Joss said with a laugh.
“My child grew up overnight and I now have a surly teen in the room,” I told her.
“I hate when that happens. Are you the worst mom ever?”
I groaned and rolled my eyes. “Yes, how did you guess?”
“Did you ask him to brush his teeth or tell him to go to bed?”
I grabbed one of the donuts and took a man-sized bite. “No, much worse. I was mean to his idol, Nash.”
“The drama from yesterday?” she questioned.
“Yes. Jace thinks I was mean to Nash.”
“Because he taught Jace to box?” she asked.
I nodded. “He glorified the violence.”
She groaned. “You’ve been listening to too many podcasts. Trust me, I’m a therapist. A high-five isn’t quite the same as what those well-meaning people are referring to. Don’t you think Nash could have been praising Jace for standing up to a bully?”
“Yes, but still, I don’t like the idea of Jace hitting first and talking later.”
“I agree,” she said. “But in this case, I think I’m glad Nash showed Jace how to hit. Those kids have been picking on our kids for too long. One of these times, it is bound to get one of them really hurt. I hate that Jace had to do it, but I’m so glad he did. Caitlyn was really scared. No child should have to be afraid to be in school.”
“I agree, but I don’t want Jace thinking this is the only way to solve problems like this,” I told her.
I debated how much I should tell her. Digging up my past was not a pleasant activity. Digging up Nash’s past was even less fun.
“I think you are still the biggest influence in his life. You can explain things to him, and I have no doubt in my mind he would listen to you. Jace is a good boy. He is not going to turn into a bully overnight because of this one event. He did something that I hate to say it, but I think it was needed.”
I slowly nodded. “I suppose you’re right.”
“But?” she asked. “I hear something else in there.”
“But I’m not sure Nash had the best male influence in his life. Nash might think this is the right way to do things because that’s the way he was raised. We have very different opinions on how little boys should be brought up.”
“I keep forgetting you know him more intimately than the last month,” she said. “I—”
I shook my head. “Don’t say it. I don’t want it to ever get out.”
“We are going to talk about it one day,” she warned.
“I know. I will. I’m just not ready to deal with that situation just yet.”
She nodded. “This is your free pass with an expiration date. Tell me about Nash’s childhood and why you’re concerned.”
I burst into laughter. “Do you even realize you’re doing it?” I asked.
“Doing what?”
“Shrinking me! You just slide right into the role so naturally. No wonder you have such dedicated clients. You are good.”
“Yes, I am. Don’t change the subject. What has you concerned about Nash’s influence on Jace? Clearly there is something.”
I blew out a breath. “I don’t know all the details, but I know he and his father do not get along. Like they don’t talk at all.”
“Was it an abusive relationship?” she asked.
“I don’t know if it was abusive, but it wasn’t good. He never really told me much, but it didn’t sound good. I would hate for Nash and Jace to develop a relationship only to have it fall apart. I don’t want my son to feel like Nash did or maybe still does.”
“That sounds like you are considering telling him?” she asked.
“No! Definitely not. I can’t. Maybe later, but not now. I only meant the relationship they have right now. I don’t want it to go bad.”