My cheeks flush. I can’t tell if he’s making this up or telling the truth. Not that it matters one way or the other, but I’m not ready for this conversation.

“And obviously you like him,” he says.

“I do not.”

He sits up in the chair and laughs. “Look, Mom—if Cole Beck, the catcher for the San Diego Swifts, likes you, and you don’t like him back and ruin the potential glory that I could get out of this in school . . .” He makes a face. “I’m moving in with Dad.”

“Over my dead body,” I say with a laugh. “Cole is a nice guy. I enjoy talking to him.” And kissing him. “But whatever you’re thinking in your head? It’s not going to happen.”

“And why not?”

Are we really having this conversation?

“Yes, we’re really having this conversation,” he says, as if he can read my mind.

I scramble to stay on top of this exchange.

“I know you think that I try to protect you too much when it comes to your dad,” I say.

Ethan nods.

“But it’s not just with your dad. It’s with everything,” I tell him. “And how irresponsible would it be if . . .” It’s hard to even say the words. “If I did date Cole or see him in some kind of way, and then he left.”

His eyes sparkle. “That would be the best story ever. My mom dated a professional baseball player. That’s at least three extra cool points in high school.”

I snort, shaking my head.

“I love you,” he says, getting to his feet. “I love you so much. But stop babying me. Okay?”

“Never.”

He rolls his eyes. “I know that I thought Charlie was going to be my new dad there for a minute. But I was a kid.”

“You’re still a kid.”

“No. I’m not. And if you hang out with Cole, I’m not going to lose my mind when he goes back home. I’m going to think it was really cool that he hung out with you, and maybe me if you’re willing to share the fun with me. I’ll have some great stories for high school.”

I don’t know what to say to that. It’s so not what I was expecting. So I pull the kid, who’s taller than I am now, into my chest and hug him tight.

“Can you let go now?” he asks, squished against me. “I’d like to have some pizza and then go play a game.”

I release him and muss up his hair as he pulls away—much to his dismay. He takes two slices of pizza and starts up the stairs.

“Ethan?” I call after him.

He stops on the landing. “Yeah?”