The other side of Shaw’s mouth drew up. “What did he think about that?”
Aaron shrugged. “He said if I was right, he was going to give me a job.”
Shaw’s smile was devastating. “Did he now?”
“I’m right, of course. Mitchell won’t be able to break through Philadelphia’s defense, and Reyes won’t be given the ball enough to stack the points. He should’ve started Gonzalez.”
The doorbell rang, and a weight settled over the room.
Focusing only on Aaron, Shaw reached out and cupped his shoulder. “You’re amazing. Have I told you that today?”
My son’s smile could’ve lit up the room. It may have been just enough to get me through the next few days of missing him.
Shaw slapped his thighs, standing, and sighed, “God, help us all when you’re old enough to start betting. In the meantime, have a great Thanksgiving.” He dropped his head to meet him eye to eye. “You text, call, email, whatever, whenever, and I will be here to talk about football or whatever you want. Okay?”
Aaron nodded.
“And when you get back, we will keep working on that spiral.”
Aaron nodded again. Shaw straightened.
The doorbell rang again.
“Okay, well, I think that’s my cue to leave,” Shaw mumbled and nodded to me. Since it was the first time that James had even shown up since Shaw had moved in, we agreed it was better he wasn’t here to complicate matters.
“Don’t you want to meet my dad?” Aaron said.
“I know your dad, buddy,” Shaw said, then added, “I’ll catch him another time. It’s better for you three to be alone. Happy Thanksgiving, and I’ll see you on Sunday.”
22
Kelcie
Shaw walked out the back door and over to his side of the duplex just as I was opening the front door.
The dichotomy between my ex-husband and Shaw had never been so apparent as it was in that moment—Shaw’s sad smile as he walked away from us and my ex-husband’s impatience at me for taking too long to open the door.
“Is he ready?” James said as a way of saying hello, staring at his phone.
“Good morning, James,” I said with a forced smile. I’d kill the bastard with kindness.
“We need to get on the road. Traffic is going to be a bitch, and I had to detour to come out this way to get him,” he said.
“Yes, well. I offered to meet you—” I said.
He waved me off. “It doesn’t matter at this point. Are you going to invite me in?”
I gritted my teeth. He wanted to see the place. That was why he was here. He wanted to report to his parents that he’d checked out where Aaron was staying.
I stepped out of the doorway and invited him in with an arm gesture and a tighter smile.
“Hi, Dad.” Aaron’s jacket was on, and his bag was in his hand. He was ready to leave.
“Hi there,” he said. “How’s it going, buddy?” His tone was lighter than the one he used with me, but it was also the same one he’d used when Aaron was five years old. James slipped his phone in his pocket and surveyed our house.
“Are you going to your parents alone?” I asked him.
He walked around the family room. “Yes, Amber and her kids are going to her parents’ house.” He looked over his shoulder and smiled. “So, it’s just us guys this time.”
