Page 38 of Dibs
“Knock it off, both of you. Dylan, go take out the trash.” I took a seat next to Tyler. “So, who’s Quinn?”
“Just someone I know. Quinn’s not my girlfriend.”
“Okay.”
After a beat he whispered, “How do you tell someone you like them?” His words were so quiet I barely heard him.
“Well, if you want her to know, you should just be honest.”
He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, but I don’t know what to say? Can you help me?”
It had been a long time since I’d been in school, asking a girl out, but I wasn’t going to turn down my son’s request for assistance. “Of course. Let me order dinner and then we’ll come up with a plan.”
We spent the next thirty minutes talking about asking her out and how he should treat someone he was interested in. It was a conversation I’d already had with both of my boys, but I felt it was important for some reminders if he was talking to a girl now.
Tyler had gone back to texting when the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it,” Dylan yelled, and I heard him running toward the entryway.
Needing to speak with Jamie, I made my way toward the door behind Dylan. Lisa was supposed to pick up her sons in the morning, and I needed to make sure Jamie could pick up Jase before Lisa arrived.
As Dylan pulled the door open, my eyes widened when I saw Chase standing behind his son.
“Let’s go play Mario Kart,” Dylan suggested to Jase. “We can play until the pizza gets here.”
“Hi, Coach Stat,” Jase greeted before he followed my son.
“Hey,” I returned, but they were halfway up the stairs already. I turned back to the man I hadn’t expected to see. “I thought Jamie had the kids.”
“Not happy to see me?” Chase grinned.
I shook my head with a slight chuckle. “That’s not … I’m just surprised to see you. You want to stay for pizza? It should be here soon.”
“Yeah, I could go for pizza.” He walked inside.
I led the way to my kitchen, where I grabbed a beer for each of us.
Tyler still sat at the kitchen counter, engrossed in his phone. “Hi, Tyler,” Chase greeted him.
“Hey,” he replied before addressing me. “Is it okay if I go to Miles’ house after dinner?”
“That’s fine, but don’t be gone too long. You still need to pack your stuff to go to your mom’s tomorrow.”
“Okay. Thanks.” He stood and walked out of the kitchen, and then we could hear him climb the stairs.
“I think that’s the most I’ve ever heard him speak.” Chase chuckled.
“Yeah, it turns out he’s been on his phone so much because he’s been texting a girl.”
Chase took a seat on the stool where Tyler had been and popped the top off his beer. “Oh, man. I’m not looking forward to that with either of my kids.”
“He asked me for help because he wants to tell her he likes her.”
“Did you help him?”
I leaned against the counter. “I did, but I don’t know if I’m the best one to give him advice.”
He quirked a brow. “Why’s that?”
