Calder saw me. "Hey, Mommy, know what?"
"What?" I cut around the end of the couch and perched on the edge of the recliner.
"He has never ever watched Dancing with the Stars!"
I raised my brow at Jensen. "No. Really?"
"During the season I watch game tapes, so I don't have time to check out TV shows until the season is over," Jensen explained.
"So what is your favorite show?" I asked him.
Leaning forward, he rested his forearms on his knees and said, "Guess."
"Inside the NFL," I offered.
"Nope." He flashed that charming, dimpled grin. "Try again."
"Ballers."
"Woman, give me credit for having interests off the gridiron. It'd be like me assuming your favorite is Making the Team or whatever that show is called about becoming a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader."
"Point taken. Okay. Your favorite show is . . . America's Next Top Model."
Jensen rolled his eyes.
"I know, I know!" Calder piped up. "It's Chopped!"
I didn't mask my surprise. "The cooking show? Seriously?"
"Yep. I can't cook at all, so I'm obsessed with it. Those contestants are badass making a dish out of stuff like fish heads, cotton candy and broccoli and having limited time to do it."
"You're not s'posed to say that bad A-word," Calder said.
"Oh. Right. Sorry."
"But Mommy says bad words sometimes," Calder continued. "Sometimes a lot of bad words. Like when-"
"I'm sure Jensen isn't interested in those very rare times," I said, to head off Calder's examples, of which there were more than I cared to hear about.
"So Mommy can be bad? Good to know," Jensen murmured.
Before I could regain control of the conversation, Calder said, "Guess Mommy's favorite show," to Jensen.
"Parenthood," Jensen said with a smirk.
"Ha ha."
"No? Damn-I mean darn. I thought I had it. How about . . . Bring It On?"
"That's a movie."
"My bad. Is it . . ." He shot Calder a sideways look. "Dancing with the Stars?"
"Yes!" Calder clapped. "Me and Mommy have the same favorite show."
"She's definitely got good taste."
Three raps sounded on the door, followed by, "Delivery from Papa John's."
Jensen vaulted over the back of the couch-in that sexy one-handed maneuver-before I even moved to grab my purse.
"Wait-"
He said, "Nope," over his shoulder. "I got this."
While he paid, I set out paper plates, napkins, cups and a jug of milk on the dining room table.
When Jensen returned with the pizzas, he pulled out the chair next to Calder.
"That's where Mommy sits." Calder pointed to the chair across from him. "You can sit over there."
I mouthed "Sorry" at him. Calder was set in his ways about a few things.
"No worries."
We helped ourselves to pizza. I said, "Thanks for buying us dinner. My turn next time."
Wait. Would he think that was presumptive?
"Sounds fair." He looked at Calder. "So that's your spot at the table."
He nodded.
"Since I live by myself, I can sit anywhere I want at my table. So I never sit in the same place two days in a row."
"How come?"
"From the time I was in a high chair until I graduated from high school, I had no choice but to sit at the same place at our family table. And since I'm the youngest, it seemed like I was the last one to get food."
"Do you sit in the same place at home now?" Calder asked.
"Nope. But I am bigger than both of my brothers so now I get the food first."
Calder took a huge bite of his cheese pizza and said, "You are a giant."
"Calder. Do not talk with your mouth full."
He mumbled, "Sorry."
"And when you're done chewing, apologize to Mr. Lund. You are aware of the no-name-calling rule in our house." I glanced at Jensen, wondering if he'd jump in and assure me that Calder didn't have to apologize. My biggest pet peeve when attempting to teach my son to mind his manners was when people-even my brother-tried to let it slide. Might be a small thing to them, but as a single parent, I needed Calder to listen to me and obey the rules I set for him.
Jensen said nothing as he helped himself to two more slices of pizza.
Calder took a big swig of milk before he said, "Sorry, Mr. Lund."
"I'm cool with you calling me Jensen, or Jens."
"Pop-pop said they call you The Rocket 'cause you run so fast."