She handed him the meat thermometer so he could check, then held out the serving platter when he nodded. The chicken pieces he’d just finished were piled on top of the previous ones. In most households that would have been enough for five meals. In hers, she was hoping to have leftovers for lunch. Her son could pack away more food than any five people she knew.

They took their seats at the table. Coop put three thighs and a breast on his plate while she served him salad in the side bowl.

“All your laundry done?” She asked. “You were using the washer all morning.”

“I had some clothes from before.” He gave her a sly smile. “You know, Mom. Some guys still have their moms doing their laundry.”

“I’ve heard that. Would you like to go live with any of them?”

He shook his head as he sighed. “No. I want to stay with you, even if you won’t do stuff like that for me.” He pointed to the heaping platter of chicken. “You make me cook sometimes. It’s unnatural.”

“It’s on a barbecue. I thought guys were into the whole fire thing.” She made a low grunting noise. “Me like fire.”

He chuckled as he tossed the thigh bones onto the empty plate she’d left on the table. “I kind of like it, but the chicken’s better with lots of sauce.”

“We did a healthy marinade instead. Lucky you.” She waited for his rueful grin before switching the subject to one that wouldn’t make him as happy. “Talk to Coach yet?”

Coop put down the chicken breast he was demolishing. “Why would you ask that?”

So no, he hadn’t. “How long are you going to hide from him?”

“A few more days. I don’t want him to yell at me.”

“Maybe if you’d tried to protect his daughter, you wouldn’t be so worried.”

“Mo-om, we’ve been over this. Luka’s my friend. I wasn’t going to rat him out. Plus, he really loves her. He’ll take good care of her.”

“If that’s what you really believe, then you shouldn’t be worried about talking to Coach.”

Her giant son hunched in his chair. “I don’t think he wants to hear that Luka’s in love.”

“You can’t hide out forever.”

“I can hide for a while more.” He looked at her. “If he comes asking, don’t tell him where I am.”

“Oh, please. I’m not lying for you.”

“Not telling him the information isn’t the same as lying.”

“Not telling him the information is what has you hiding from him in the first place.”

“Mom, please. You don’t know what it’s like to have Coach mad at you. It’s really, really bad.”

Not information she wanted to have, because right now, Keith wasn’t very happy with her, either.

“My advice is to go to him and tell him you’re sorry. Get it out of the way before the problem gets bigger. But it’s your decision, so you’ll have to live with the consequences.”