Page 39 of The Bitterroot Inn (Jamison Valley 5)
I looked past her and saw what she meant. Hunter was now rolling cars along the floor next to Coby. Both were smiling and making pretend engine noises.
Phew. My heart swelled at the same time a nervous wave rolled in my stomach.
This was the first time I’d ever brought a potential love interest home to meet Coby and I’d done it without much thought. Should I have waited to get to know Hunter more before bringing him home? What if behind that handsome and sweet exterior was an evil soul? What if—
I stopped my mental flip-out. Coby and Hunter playing in my living room wasn’t something I needed to overcomplicate. As far as my son needed to know, Hunter was just another male presence, like his uncles. In time, if things became more serious, I could introduce Hunter to Coby as something more.
“I hope he’s as good as he seems,” Mom whispered so quietly that I doubted she’d meant to say it out loud.
“Me too,” I whispered back.
Mom gave me another hug, then went into the living room to say good-bye to Coby and Hunter. Waving, she let herself out and I finished making dinner.
“Okay. We’re ready!” I called after setting the table.
“Let’s go wash your hands.” Hunter stood from the floor and held out a hand for Coby. “Can you show me to the bathroom?”
A smiling Coby tugged Hunter down the hall. “It’s this way!”
The sight of them disappearing into the bathroom, hand-in-hand, conjured a familiar rush of worry. Coby was missing out, not having a father. My son deserved to have a playmate every day, not just when my brothers or dad were over for a visit. He deserved to have a good man tuck him into bed every night. To have a dad he could brag about.
I had that with my dad. I wanted that for my son.
“This looks great,” Hunter said as he and Coby came back from the bathroom and took their seats.
“Thanks. Okay, guys, dig in.”
“Hunter—” Coby started but his mouth was full of fries so I cut him off.
“Chew first, bud. Don’t talk with your mouth full.”
He scrunched up his nose and chewed as fast as his jaw would work. With one big swallow and a swig of chocolate milk, he looked back at Hunter. “Hunter, do you know what sticky boots are?”
“No. What are they?”
“They’re special boots to climb walls. Mickey Mouse has ’em.”
Hunter shook his head. “They sound pretty awesome. Do you have some?”
Coby gave him an exaggerated pout. “No. Mommy says they’re dangerous.”
Hunter grinned at me, then looked back at Coby. “She’s probably right about that. Moms are always worried about dangerous stuff, aren’t they?”
“Yeah.” Coby shoved another fry in his mouth and kept on talking. “Have you driven in a monster truck before?”
“No. Have you?”
Coby shook his head. “No. Do you think ants cough?”
“Hmm.” Hunter swallowed his bite. “I don’t know that much about ants. What do you think?”
“I think they cough.”
“You’re probably right.”
Coby’s questions continued on from there. We learned that Hunter thought Coby’s dream job of super spy was spot on, that he agreed the T. rex was the coolest dinosaur and that he’d never seen Coby’s favorite movie, Cars.
I stayed happily quiet throughout dinner, enjoying the questions Coby would ask and the answers Hunter gave.
