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“Shut up,” I say with a mouth full of grilled goodness. Once I’ve swallowed, I add, “You try being without decent food for a month and hear how you sound.”
My son chuckles and looks down, mumbling to himself, “That ain’t all you’ve been without.”
“Excuse me. What was that?”
Caleb looks up, unable to hide his grin. As he studies me, his smile fades, giving me the idea that he was only half-kidding. He looks so grown that it startles me for just a second. “Dad, I’m glad you and Mom have always gotten along.”
He pauses, and so do I. My insides twist, but it’s not in hunger this time. “Okay,” I say, more in question than anything else. When Caleb doesn’t continue, I give him a little nudge with my elbow.
He finds his courage and asks, “Why didn’t you ever marry?”
The question surprises me. It’s not something I would have expected to come from my son. I know he’s serious, so I take the time to form a real answer.
“I don’t know. For a long time, all my focus went into making sure you and your mom were taken care of. Between that and the Navy, I didn’t have the time.”
Caleb’s shoulders stiffen, making me realize how that came out. “No, that’s not right, and I wouldn’t want you to feel like you’re the reason. Truthfully, I just never thought about it…until recently.”
Eyes like his mother’s widen in shock. “You’ve been thinking about it? Who is she?”
I put my burger down and hold up my hands. “Whoa. Hold on. Just because I’ve been thinking about it doesn’t mean… There is no she.”
My son’s grin is back and even more playful this time. “Okay. Who is he, then?”
I roll my eyes. “Okay, smartass. Yes, I’ve been thinking about it, but have no specific target in sight.”
“Bullshit.”
Leaning back, I scoff at what this light conversation has become. “What do you mean, bullshit? Have you become a mind reader, college boy?”
Caleb shrugs. “You tipped your shoulder when you answered. That’s your tell.”
Mentally rolling back the instant replay, I realize the mistake that has cost me many large poker pots. “You and your damned criminal justice classes,” I grumble. “Fine. There is a she that I find interesting, but she seems to have an issue with me, though I don’t know why. I’ve only met her a few times.”
Caleb’s brows rise to meet his longish hair. “If the first date was such a bust, how was there a second?”
“There was never a first. She was at the bar when I met up with Bash for beers. She leads a team with him.”
A devilish look crosses my son’s face. “So, she’s a badass then. Sick. Since you struck out with her, can I get her number?”
“Sure, I’ll get Bash to write it on my shoe, and I’ll stick it up your ass.”
Caleb leans back and crosses his arms, sporting a victorious smile. “Hmm. Sounds to me like you haven’t given up yet.”
I move things around the table, lifting them and making a show of looking for but not finding something.
“What are you doing?” Caleb asks.
“I’m trying to find you some business, so you’ll stay out of mine.”
My son lifts his hands in surrender. “Alright. Alright. I’ll leave you alone. I just don’t want you to be alone forever.” Captain barks, and he adds, “Sorry, girl, but you don’t count.”
Ignoring his half-teasing plea, I say, “Speaking of Captain, I’ve got to ship out soon. Do you have anything coming up in the next two weeks that would keep you from watching her?”
“Nope. Our season’s over. I’ll still be training but on my own schedule. It seems kind of strange for you to be going out again so soon after being gone so long the last time.”
The temptation is there to tell him that I’ll be deploying with the she, but I wouldn’t, even if the mission weren’t so sensitive in nature. “It happens. I’ll give you as much notice as I can.”
“It’s okay, Dad. Don’t worry. Captain and I know the drill.”