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But again…boundaries. My relationship with my son—and Zander’s relationship with him—was what mattered most.
Still, that didn’t stop me from going to the park entrance closest to their apartment the next morning. It didn’t stop me from arriving a few minutes early and stretching for longer than usual. It didn’t stop the smile from curling the corner of my lips when he showed up in a tight tank top and nylon shorts, with his hair sleep mussed.
“I wanted to go a little early this morning. It has nothing to do with you,” he said, a scowl on his face. He didn’t like that I was there; that much was clear.
“Naturally,” I replied. “I guess that means we should run together, though spending time with each other will be difficult on both of us.”
“More for me than you. You’re incorrigible. Also, at your age, I wonder how hard it’ll be to keep up?” He quirked a brow, the tease of a smile on his lips even as he fought to hold it back.
Without thinking, I leaned closer, mouth next to his ear. “You have firsthand experience with my stamina. Some things just get better with age, and I’m one of them.” When I pulled back, he was scowling again, his breathing faster and the tips of his ears pink. “This always gives you away.” I ran my finger over the shell of his left one, dropped my hand, and began to run.
It was Zander’s choice if he wanted to go with me, and he did, seconds later, his shoes pounding the sidewalk in unison with mine.
I’d feel him glance my way from time to time, his arm accidentally brushing against mine. We didn’t look each other in the eyes, didn’t speak, both of us probably wondering what in the fuck we were doing. I wanted to figure him out—how the man who’d so blatantly propositioned me that first night, who’d been such a passionate and vocal lover, fit in with the man who clearly kept his heart close to his chest. Who didn’t allow and maybe feared letting people in, and who fervently wanted to be a teacher and struggled to accept help.
We didn’t discuss how long we would run; we just went. I didn’t plan on backing down first, that was for sure, even if it made me late for work.
I think he knew it because when we finally slowed toward the end of another lap, he rolled his eyes.
“What?” I asked, hoping he didn’t hear my breathlessness. I kept in good shape, but we had gone longer than I usually did.
“Nothing, nothing at all,” he replied dramatically before walking away. He waved and added, “See you tomorrow, Mr. McCoy.”
A tingling feeling hit me deep in my gut as I held back my laugh. “Mr. McCoy?” It was the first time he’d used my surname.
Zander turned so he was walking backward, slowly. “My mama taught me to respect my elders. Just using good manners.”
That little shit. I crossed my arms. “I would prefer sir,” I teased back.
“Good luck with that, Mr. McCoy!” This time, when he whirled around, he picked up speed and jogged away.
I stood there dumbly and watched him go.
* * *
Ross had to transfer one of the cars from his dealership to mine for someone to test drive. It went that way sometimes. A person would see a vehicle online and drive to the wrong location. We always made sure to get the cars cleaned, prepped, and brought over to make things easier on the customer.
It was around lunchtime, so once he dropped the keys off with the salesman working with the potential buyer, I asked, “Do you wanna have lunch?”
“Such a slacker,” Ross joked. While it hadn’t been long since he’d been home and running his own dealership, it was clear how serious he took it. I wouldn’t have given him this responsibility if he didn’t. Ross was good at thinking outside the box in a way that I had yet to master.
“Be nice and eat with your old man.” As soon as I said it, I wished I hadn’t because it reminded me that Zander was his friend, that they were close to the same age, and I…wasn’t.
“What’s that look for?”
“What look?”
“The one that says constipation.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not making a face.” But I was sure I did.
There was a sushi place across the street that we both liked, so we walked over there. While we were waiting for our food to arrive, Ross said, “Listen…I want to do something special. I know it’s expensive, and we likely won’t reap any benefits from it monetarily, but…I think it’s important to give back.”
Warmth spread through my chest. If there was one thing I did right in this world, I knew it was him. No matter how difficult it had been at the time, I would always be glad I had him. “Go on.”
