Page 60 of Welcome to Forever
She nodded to herself as her hand went to the ring dangling off her necklace. Because anything more than that would put a damper on things. Abigdamper.
—
“So you asked her out on a pre-ball date? And you’ve been having sex with her ever since?” Lawson grabbed a soda from Micah’s fridge and sat down.
Micah felt his eyes widen as he scanned the room. “Lower your voice, man. Ben’s down the hall doing homework.”
Lawson laughed. “You did, didn’t you? I can see it all over your face. Was it good?”
Micah glowered at him from the hot stove. “If you keep being such an asshole, I’ll stop letting you come over for dinner every week. Then what will you do?”
“A man needs a home-cooked meal at least once a week,” Lawson agreed. “I guess then I’d have to settle down and find a good woman.” He shook his head and took a long drink of his Coke. “She’d have to be a good cook. Otherwise, I’d starve.”
“You wouldn’t starve. You could live off junk food for another decade or two before it caught up to you,” Micah said. “Or you could just live at your sister’s house.”
Lawson scratched his chin, a look of heavy concentration weighing down his features as he considered this. “I feel like I practically live there as it is. If I ever see Beth’s jerk of an ex, I’m going to introduce him to my fist. Who up and leaves their wife and little girl?”
“I don’t know. Jessica didn’t have any problems leaving her husband and son.”
Lawson shook his head. “After I introduce Beth’s ex to my fist, I’ll introduce him to Jessica. A perfect match.”
“Anyway, I’m not discussing my love life with you.”
“Love life?” Lawson was grinning again.
Micah let out a deep growl. “Just cut it out with the s-word, all right? I don’t want Ben to hear you.”
“What s-word?” Ben asked, walking down the hall while keeping one hand on the wall to stabilize himself.
Micah startled at his son’s voice, then nearly burnt his hand on the stove when he saw Ben standing. “Where’s your chair?” His voice seemed to boom in the small kitchen.
“In my room. I can still walk, you know.” Ben waved at Lawson, and Micah immediately understood why his chair had been left behind. It was another reason Lawson would be invited over no matter what he said or did. Ben loved him. He was the uncle that Ben didn’t have by blood. Blood didn’t matter, though. Micah knew that well enough. Family was made through the time people spent together.
“What s-word?” Ben asked Lawson.
Lawson’s face turned serious. “Top-secret military stuff that can’t be spoken in front of young ears.”
Ben didn’t buy it. He continued to take slow, deliberate steps to the table. “Hopefully we’re not eating Dad’s spaghetti again.”
Micah’s head dipped in mock insult as he turned to watch him. “What’s wrong with my spaghetti?”
Ben made a face. “Green noodles are weird.”
“They’re spinach.” Micah looked at Lawson to help him out.
“I agree with the kid. It’s weird,” his pal said with a shrug.
Micah pretended to brood as he brought the plates he’d prepared to the table. “Manwiches.” He smiled proudly at his son and friend. “Dinner of men. Let’s eat.”
Micah and Lawson lifted the oozing buns to their mouths as Ben watched. “Dad, can we say grace?”
Micah’s Manwich hovered in front of him. Clearing his throat, he set it down. “Grace?” He hadn’t considered praying before a meal since his mother had passed away. She’d always insisted they bless the food before eating. “Who taught you about saying grace?”
Ben looked at the table. “There’s a girl at school that says it before her lunch. I thought, you know, it might be time for me to get to know the big guy…so he’ll protect Mom for me while she’s in the war.” Ben’s gaze hung on his plate. “Never mind. It’s not important.”
“Sure it is, little buddy.” Lawson folded his hands in front of him and cast a convincing look in Micah’s direction. Micah was too stunned to think. If there wasn’t enough for his little guy to worry about, now he was concerned about his mother dying, too.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” Lawson asked, halfway into the meal.
