Sex first thing in the morning, sleeping with Abe in his arms, making breakfast together, and a dinner date in the evening, followed by more sex. It sounded pretty perfect to Jason too.
“HOW MUCH have I missed?” Jason asked as he sat down on the grass next to Angela’s camping chair and squinted at the kids running across the field.
“They just started the second half,” she said. “So you’re here earlier than usual.”
“I wasn’t working today.”
“Donny’s games are on weekends. You don’t usually work on weekends.”
Ignoring the comment, Jason said, “How’s he playing?”
“Fine. He hasn’t scored but he had a few nice assists. He’ll be happy you’re here.”
“That’d be new.” His son wasn’t the happy type. The boy was surly and disrespectful. Angela was way too easy on him.
“You can’t expect a smile or anything obvious. But if we’re really lucky, he’ll come over and grunt at us. That’s how you’ll know he’s happy.”
“If he’s really lucky, I’ll grunt back,” Jason grumbled.
Angela turned her head to the side, lowered her sunglasses, and stared at Jason over the top of them. “Donny is thirteen. What’s your excuse?”
“I’m thirty-six.”
Shaking her head, she pushed her sunglasses back up and said, “At least we know where he gets it.”
Jason grunted.
“So,” Angela said.
He waited for her to continue her sentence, but she didn’t. He had nothing else to do, so he said, “Yeah?”
“What are you up to next Saturday?”
Angela never asked about his social life. Never. He frowned and looked at her. “Why do you want to know?”
“No reason,” she said too lightly. It wasn’t sincere. “Just making small talk.” She didn’t make small talk. It was a setup of some sort. For what, he didn’t know.
He turned back to the game and kept his mouth shut. It was safer.
“It’s Valentine’s Day,” she said, apropos of nothing.
“Uh-huh,” Jason replied, because it was.
“The good restaurants get booked up. If you don’t have a reservation, it’s impossible to get in.”
For the first time in his life, Jason had planned a Valentine’s evening, so he was aware of the reservation rule. He also knew flower orders had to be placed well in advance. Thankfully, he had done both, and in a weird twist, he’d enjoyed it. He was looking forward to taking Abe out and romancing him. Not that he’d ever admit that to anyone, himself included.
It had been a month since he and Abe had decided to date, but they’d only been out a few times. Jason had his kids every other weekend. Weekdays were hard because of work. And the first few hours they saw each other, they were both so hot for it they couldn’t go out in public. Plus, Abe was as much of a homebody as Jason, who only ever went out to get laid. But even though it was a made-up holiday, Jason figured they’d both enjoy doing something special on Valentine’s Day.
“So do you have reservations?”
Jason snapped his gaze toward Angela. “What are you rambling on about?”
“Dinner reservations for Saturday. Do you have them?”
“Why are you asking me about dinner reservations?”
“Because, like I said, it’s Valentine’s Day, so I assume you’ll be going out to dinner with your boyfriend and I want to make sure you know to make reservations. Otherwise you’ll show up somewhere, get turned away, and get angry.” She shook her head. “There is nothing romantic about you throwing a tantrum.”
“I have no idea what you’re rattling on and on about.”
“Valentine’s Day.”
She was baiting him. That had to be it. There was no way she knew what he had planned. Even if she had an inkling he was seeing someone, which she didn’t, she wouldn’t expect him to organize a special night out. He wasn’t that kind of person. Of course, he did in fact have such a night planned, but that was neither here nor there.
“I’m done with this conversation,” he said.
“Don’t be an ass. I’m trying to help you.”
“Did I ask you for help?”
“No. But I’m giving it to you anyway because that’s just the kind of person I am.”
“There are at least ten insults I can come up with in response to that comment, but I’m keeping them to myself because you’re the mother of my children.”
“Ten?” Angela snorted. “Jason, honey, I’ve amassed way more than that many insults for you over the years.”
And each one of them was probably well-earned. “Touché,” he said.
She reached over her shoulder and patted herself on the back.
“I wasn’t trying to be an asshole,” Jason said.
“It’s okay. I know you can’t help it.”
“Screw off.”
“That remorse didn’t last long.”
“Whatever.”
“Very grown-up response,” Angela said. “Anyway, back to our discussion.”
“We weren’t having a discussion.” It was an inquisition.
“Do you have reservations for Valentine’s Day?”
“If I had any energy at all, I’d get up and sit somewhere else.”
“No, you wouldn’t. You like me way too much.”