“Maybe I should call the sitter.”
Eddie pointed to an imaginary watch on his wrist. “Tick tock. You don’t want to keep him waiting. And try not to search for reasons to dump this one. I’ve never seen you this nervous before a date. It’s cute.”
“I’ll be home in a few hours. Call me if you need anything.”
“I won’t be calling!” he yelled out, as I closed and locked the door behind me.
The little bistro down the street was one of my favorites, the décor a warm blend of neutral colors that put the food at the forefront. When I walked in, I felt instantly at home.
I was surprised to see that Arthur was already there, sitting near the entrance, waiting for me. “Hi,” I said, wincing at the slight shakiness in my voice. “It’s nice to see you again.”
“You too,” he said, then he leaned in close. “I think I’m a little underdressed for this place.”
I shrugged. “They don’t have a dress code, so you’re fine.”
“You look good.”
“I always dress like this,” I admitted. “I only have one or two pairs of jeans in my closet. I’m overdressed wherever I go, so you’re balancing me out. Besides, the place is nearly dark. It’s not like anyone can see us from their table.”
Arthur laughed. “Thank you for that.”
We found a seat, and immediately a waiter appeared with a plate of cheeses and a small selection of wines in tiny little bottles. I thanked the waiter, and he disappeared. “Have you been here before?” I asked.
“No, man. This place looks fancy.”
“Relax. There’s nothing to it." I picked up a piece of cheese. “Close your eyes.”
“What?”
“It’s why this place is so dark. It heightens your other senses when you can’t see well. Close your eyes and taste this one. It’s my favorite.”
He did as I asked, opening his mouth and sticking his tongue out just enough for me to set the delicate slice of cheese in his mouth. He closed his mouth and moaned, then carefully chewed and swallowed.
I watched him openly. His lips were soft, in the perfect bow shape, and totally kissable. I wanted to kiss him right then, but I stopped myself. It was only our second date.
He moaned again, then opened his eyes. “That was amazing.”
I poured him a small taste of the red wine. He tasted it, closing his eyes again and leaning back. “That is — wow. I can see why you like this place.”
“It’s a nice atmosphere, and the cheeses are world-class."
He reached out, and his hand hovered above the plate. When he finally picked a cheese, he fed it to me, giving me the same instructions I’d given him. I did what he asked, a thrill going through my body. I took a sip of my wine, looking across the table at him, our eyes locking.
He smiled shyly. “You’re right, the darkness feels so intimate.”
“Is it all right? Maybe I should’ve picked a more laid-back place.”
“No, it’s perfect.”
“I never noticed how green your eyes are before tonight,” I said. “You must get complimented a lot.”
“It is a really nice little bistro.”
I chuckled. “Nervous?”
“No, why?”
“I told you that your eyes are beautiful, and you repeated that the bistro was nice.”
“Oh,” he said, looking down at the table for an instant, then smiling at me apologetically. “I’m sorry. I have a lot going on at home, and I thought this would help. I’m really enjoying myself, but it’s all so heavy, you know?”
“Is everything all right?”
He sighed. “Yes and no. My son is having some growing pains, and it’s been hard on us both. He keeps acting out at school, and I’m not sure what else to try.”
“This age is really rough." I reached out and touched his cheek, then pulled my hand away. “Sorry, that was a little forward. I just meant, I understand what you’re going through.”
“No, it’s okay. It feels nice to talk to another man about this and have him understand." He smiled. “And your touch feels…”
He trailed off and looked a little dreamy-eyed. “I guess I’ll just come out and say it. It feels good. Being around you makes me feel good about myself.”
“That’s always a plus,” I said. I could’ve easily said the same thing, but his eyes showed the heavy burden he was carrying, and I wanted to make it right. “Can I offer you some advice?”
He shrugged. “I get a lot of advice as it is, but all right, shoot.”
“This is what I do. I mean, work with teens who are struggling. I’m not sure exactly what Leo is going through, but most of the time, when kids lash out, it’s because they want more attention.”
“I try to give him the love and attention I know he needs, but he pushes me away like he needs space.”
“That’s normal. Kids push back because they’re afraid to admit that they’re not invincible. You can’t just roll over and let everything he wants happen.
“So he’s acting out at school, then acting like he wants nothing to do with you. But what he’s saying isn’t what he means."
He leaned forward, and I braced myself. How many parents had told me to mind my own business? “I know this is hard to hear, and believe me, I’ve had enough parents get upset about this, but this is just normal. It doesn’t mean you’re failing as a parent; it just means you have to adjust the way you do things a little.
“Recognize the signs that he’s not being honest with you; arms crossed, looking anywhere but in your eyes. Or even eye contact that is too intense. And remember, the kids who need the most love ask for it in the most unloving ways.”
I waited for the defenses to fly up, but he only nodded, his crooked smile almost sad. “You’re right,” he said. “I’ve been missing some of the biggest clues. I went back to work last night, and I should’ve stayed. He was giving me tons of cues, but I was so frustrated with his behavior.”
“It happens to the best of us,” I offered. “And you’re already ahead of the game.”
“How so?”
“Most parents think that anything I say to them is an attack on their parenting. It couldn’t be further from the truth. We’re all in this together, and with a teenage son of my own, I know how hard it can be to deal with them.”
I picked up a piece of cheese and slipped it into his mouth, and when I set my hand down on the table, he took it. His eyes opened, and he looked deep into my soul as he swallowed the last bite. “Thank you for telling me what I needed to hear, and not what I wanted to hear.”
“We’ve all been there,” I said. “So now what? I guess we’ll have to cut this short, so you can meet your son’s needs.”
Arthur nodded. “Thank you for understanding. I had already decided to spend more time with him, but I was afraid leaving early tonight would be giving up my life outside being a father."
He squeezed my hand. “Jonas, I needed this talk with you." He motioned around us. “And I needed this, even for a short time.
“Being out with you has replenished my soul and made me ready to take up the battle again. I have more time to spend with him; I was just giving him his space because I thought that was what he needed.
“But you’re right, and I’m going to make sure he gets the attention he needs, even if he acts like I’m totally lame. And I’ve decided to hire someone to work part-time at the shop. Then I can be home when he gets off school and really focus on him.”
“That sounds like a wonderful plan.”
“Listen, I hate to do this, but I really do need to go. I need to see him before he goes to bed. Maybe a little unexpected pep talk will be exactly what he needs to help him get through tomorrow.”
“That’s a wonderful idea,” I said. “I’ll walk you to your car." I motioned to the waiter for the check and had him box up our food. “You can take the cheeses home. But savor them, and know that you’re doing an amazing job raising your son all by yourself. You and I bo
th know how very hard that is.”
I paid the check and left the waiter a handsome tip for expediting the main course. It was only a simple, yet elegant sandwich on a flaky croissant, but I was hungry.
“You don’t have to do that. And thank you for paying. I’ll have the next one.”
I handed him the little bag that held the cheese and his sandwich. “I insist. I can’t fix what’s going on with your son, so at least let me make sure you’re taken care of.”
“Thanks,” he said, bumping into me playfully and slipping his hand into mine. “What about Saturday? Do you have any plans?”
“I don’t know; what are we doing?” I teased.
“It’s a surprise. Just find those jeans, and a shirt you don’t mind getting dirty in.”
“I’m intrigued."
We stopped next to his car, still holding hands. He put his bag in the passenger seat, then turned and looked at me, biting his lip nervously. “I had a good time tonight.”
“I did, too."
I leaned in, and his lips parted. I took his other hand in mine just as our lips met.
He threaded his fingers through mine, deepening our kiss and pressing his body against mine. His loose clothing did nothing to hide the chiseled chest beneath the thin fabric. When I pulled back, I knew I had a goofy smile on my face, but I didn’t care.
“Wow,” he said in a whisper.
He looked up at me, and I longed to kiss him again, but I knew it would be too much. “I’ll see you on Saturday?”
He nodded, then I opened his driver’s side door and he got in. I watched him drive away before I went to my car and went home, head in the clouds and joy in my heart. This guy was special; I just knew it.
6
Eddie
My phone vibrated in my pocket. I watched Mr. Wilson walking up and down the aisle as he made sure everyone was doing what they were supposed to.
His back was turned to me, and he was clear across the room, so I slid my phone halfway out of my pocket and swiped my thumb over the screen and sent the message in seconds. Michael messaged me back immediately.
Is Leo in detention with you? he wanted to know.
No, he’s in group two with Mrs. Snyder.
Lucky him, Michael responded.
I almost laughed, but held it in, my phone in the shadows of the desk now, my right hand holding a pencil to my paper as if I was thinking.
What do I do about Leo? When detention is over, he says he’s going to kick my ass.
You have to fight back, or something. I mean, you can’t just roll over and play dead. Leo isn’t that dumb.
This time, a laugh escaped me, but I covered it with a cough. I caught Mr. Wilson looking at me, so I wrote a few words on my paper until he went back to walking up and down the aisles.
I’m not going to fight him. That’s stupid. I thought he was going to get expelled, but they keep giving him more chances. It’s not fair.
“Mr. Beauchamp, there are no phones in detention.”
I jumped, shocked to see Mr. Wilson right beside me. “I’m sorry,” I stammered. “I was, um—”
“Give it here.”
I handed the phone over and did my best to look ashamed. Looking into his eyes like a lost puppy, I whispered, “I was just talking to my friend about how to deal with a bully without getting violent. That’s why I’m in here, because Leo won’t leave me alone, and I lost my cool.”
Mr. Wilson sighed. “You can have it back at the end of the day. I wouldn’t worry about Leo. I don’t see him completing the program any time soon. He’s already been given two more days of ISS.”
“That’s awful,” I lied, as if I cared. “I hope he gets the help he needs.”
“You’re a good kid, Eddie. Don’t let this little setback derail everything else you’ve accomplished this year. You’ll be back in class tomorrow, and I’m sure by next week, we’ll all be rid of Leo Reed." He handed me back the phone, sly as hell, then winked at me. “Keep it out of sight this time,” he said.
I nodded. There were definitely perks to being a good kid.
* * *
My dad was at the curb when they let us out of ISS, group one first, then group two, then the rest of the school. As soon as Mr. Wilson said we were dismissed, I hauled butt out the door so I wouldn’t get caught outside the school by Leo.
“How was your day?” my dad asked,
“You do remember I had ISS, right?”
“I do, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make the best of things, right?”
“You seem really happy today. Did you have a good date?”
“I did.”
“I thought so, since you were out so late.”
“You were already in bed. I didn’t want to disturb you.”
I shrugged. “ISS is earlier than I’m used to. I was so tired I couldn’t keep my eyes open.”
He nodded, patting my leg affectionately, and risking a glance away from the road to smile at me. He was so safety-conscious it was almost unbearable, but my dad was a good guy, and I knew not everyone was as lucky as me.
“You’ve done a really good job making the best of this mess. I don’t agree with you being punished, but the policy is what it is. We have to follow the rules—”
“And what we don’t like, we change,” I said, interrupting him.
He laughed and ran his fingers through his hair. “I guess I’ve said that a few times.”
“Just a couple,” I teased. “Enough about school, ’cause I’m sick of ISS and I can’t wait to go back to class tomorrow, but how was the date? Like, not just, it was good or bad. Did you have fun? Where did you go?”
He pulled into the driveway and we got out together. Dad slowed his steps so I could keep up, and I shook my head. “I’m not a little kid anymore. You can walk your normal pace.”
“I know, but I like these moments.”
I ducked my head and smiled at him. He put his arm around my shoulders and gave me a side hug, like he always did. “I like them, too,” I admitted.
His eyes got shiny, and I looked away. “I know it’s normal to think your parents are cool, but I’m lucky, and I know that.”
“I’m the lucky one,” Jonas said, then sighed. “He didn’t share much, but Arthur is having so many problems with his son. I can see it in his eyes. He’s at a loss, and all I could think the entire time was how lucky I am that you’re such a good kid. You always have been, and it makes me realize that some good parents still have difficult kids.”
I didn’t have to fake surprise; I was shocked. “Are you telling me that you’re not judging a parent for the actions of their kid?" I walked into the house ahead of him and felt his forehead with the back of my hand. “We should get you to a hospital. You must be sick.”
“Stop it,” he laughed. “It’s not that. Arthur is just such a nice, affectionate man, and I know that he’s a good dad. I can hear it in the way he talks about his son.”
“You kissed him, didn’t you?”
My dad blushed, and my mouth dropped open. “I hope you didn’t put out yet.”
“Eddie Beauchamp!” he said.
“What? You’re always telling me to respect myself. You haven’t even had, like, a real weekend date. Wait, are you seeing him again?”
“Yes.”
“This weekend?”
“Saturday.”
“Wow, that’s got to be some kind of record. He must be something special. I can’t believe you haven’t found a million reasons to drop him yet.”
“I’m trying to do this right,” he said. “I told you I was going to make an effort not to be so judgmental, but with Arthur, it’s easy. I feel so different around him.”
“Different how?”
“I don’t know … mellow. It’s like the world outside us doesn’t exist, and there’s so much freedom in that.”
“Is that why you didn’t call to check on me twenty times?” I asked.
His mouth dropped open, and then he laughed a
nd shook his head. “I hadn’t even realized that I didn’t check on you once.”
“See? I told you I could handle you being gone for a few hours.”
He took in a huge breath and let it out, looking at me with the same expression that was in all my baby pictures. I shifted uncomfortably, wondering if I’d set myself up for a bear hug, but then he laughed and playfully punched my arm.
“I guess you are growing up. What do you say to flying solo on Saturday again?”
“I say hell yes!”
“Language.”
“My dad, always following the rules." I motioned toward the calendar we kept hanging in the kitchen. “What about Hopeway House? I need some more volunteer hours.”
“Sunday?”
“Are you going to be able to get up in the morning?”
“Good point,” he said.
“Are you blushing?”
He shook his head. “What about Saturday morning? My date isn’t until after dinner.”
“That sounds good. Then we can both have Sunday to recover." I gave him a wicked grin. “I just hope you’re here when I wake up.”
“You are too much,” he said, then he opened up the fridge and started fixing dinner.
Jonas
I let Eddie get away with things I normally wouldn’t, teasing me about my new relationship. It was so strange to look at this young man and see the baby he used to be. I knew it embarrassed him when I brought it up, but I couldn’t help it. Even parents with easy kids struggled.
I was vigilant for signs that he was hiding his feelings about ISS, and everything that was going on at school, but unlike Monday, he was open, and it was clear that he’d made peace with what had happened. He jumped in to help me make dinner, cutting the vegetables like a pro as I started the base for my spaghetti sauce.
I watched him from the corner of my eye, stepping to the side when he added ingredients to the pan as I’d taught him. “You’re going to make someone a fine partner someday.”
He laughed. “I think I’ll pass on that. Dating is too much drama.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” I said. “At least for now. Someday, I’m sure I’ll want grandkids.”
Dr. Perfect: A Contemporary Romance Bundle Page 25
