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My cock instantly springs to attention. “Don’t or I won’t be responsible for my actions.”
A knock on the door sounds before I can properly show Erika exactly what I mean. With another heavy exhale, I release Erika and roll my chair over to the door. “Who is it?”
“Me,” comes the muffled response.
I pop open the door to see our son, Ethan, standing outside. At thirteen, the boy stands taller than everyone in his class. His shoulders are wide enough to fit a man’s large, but he’s still a kid. So many people look at him and think he’s an adult and treat him like one.
“How was practice, son?”
“Good.” He holds up a bloody hand. “Had a little problem at the gas station across the street though.”
Erika jumps to her feet. “Oh no, sweetheart, what happened?”
“Nothing much.” Over her head, his eyes meet mine.
I give him a nod of acknowledgment. He wants to run the situation by me first before we worry Erika. “Why don’t you go wash up and when I’m done with your mom, I’ll come find you.”
He nods and disappears.
“I can do my own hair,” Erika bats my hands away. “Go see to our son.”
“You sure?” I always want to finish things that I start.
“I’m sure.” She gets up on her tiptoes and kisses my chin. “I know he wants to tell you something. You should hear him out.”
I give her a wry smile and cuddle her for a hug. “Can’t get anything by you, can we?”
“I’m glad you know that.” She pats me on the ass and shoves me out into the hall.
I find Ethan in quick order. He’s got the first-aid kit out and is awkwardly dabbing alcohol on his knuckles.
I take the medical supplies from him and straddle the bench.
“What’s the story?”
“There’s this kid, Steven, who has had the hots for this one girl, Tina. Tina’s been telling him to leave her alone, but he won’t listen. She was filling her tank when he came up behind her and started grinding on her, pretending to dance to the music. I pulled him off and he took a swing at me. I didn’t mean to hit him back, but…” He raises his hand.
“Reflexes,” I fill in. “You’ve got killer reflexes.” I pull his hand back into my lap and administer iodine before wrapping him up.
“You gonna send me back to the home?”
The home is the halfway house he was stuck in for a few months before the social worker asked us to take him in.
“Nope. You’re stuck with us.”
“Even if that guy sues you? He says he’s going to take your gym and Erik—I mean, Mom’s dance studio.”
“First, he can’t take that from us because you didn’t do anything wrong. Second, even if we were going to lose the gym and dance studio, we would keep you. People over things, Ethan. It’s always people over things.”
“But this is our home.”
“Nah.” I finish my taping and lift his hand to his heart. “Home’s in there. We live in your heart just as you live in ours and as long as we have each other that’s all that matters. The gym, the dance studio—those are all nice, but we can survive without them. We can be happy without trophies or awards or even money. All we need is each other.”
I let his hand go, but he doesn’t drop it from his chest. Instead his fingers spread as far as the bandage allows, as if he’s trying to clutch that truth in his hand. My eyes get hot. I see so much of myself in this boy. Love made me find my way to Erika and together we created that home I’m talking about. Someday, love’s going to lead this boy to a woman and he’ll make a home with her, too.
I believe that because I’ve lived it.
