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Clark sat down next to Jace on the couch, resting his arm on the back. “How you feeling, buddy?”
“My throat feels better.”
“I’m glad. Are you mad at me about going out tonight?”
“No. You should go out and make friends.”
Clark quirked a brow. “That doesn’t sound like you talking.”
“Well, Uncle Sam said it first, but I agree.”
“I love having my brother and son discussing how I should live my life.”
“We only worry ’cause we love you.”
“Hey, don’t turn my own words against me,” Clark said, tickling Jace’s ribs. He giggled and squealed for several seconds and broke into a fit of coughing.
Clark stopped tickling, cursing himself for forgetting Jace was better, not healed. “Sorry. I’ll get you a popsicle before I leave, but I wanted to talk to you because I decided to ask Merry to have dinner with me. And she agreed.”
“Tonight?” Jace clarified.
“Yes.”
“Awesome!” Jace jumped on him, and Clark froze for a split second, the hour he’d spent washing and ironing his clothes flashing through his mind. But a hug from his son would be worth whatever stickiness or wrinkles he left behind and he squeezed him back.
“It is awesome, but we need to talk about what’s going to happen moving forward, so sit back and look at me so I know you’re listening.” Jace did and Clark smoothed the front of his shirt. “What happens with Merry and me is between us. So even if we don’t end up being anything more than friends, Merry and the rest of the Winters family will continue to be a part of your life. Daddy will still have a job and we’ll live in this house until we buy a place of our own. You got it?”
“Okay. But you’re going to try, right? To keep her?”
“I will do my very best.”
Someone knocked on the front door and he ruffled his son’s hair as he stood. “You’re a good egg, Jace.”
“I get it from you.”
Those words hit him right in the feels and he coughed, fighting the urge to cry. “Don’t think because you’re a great kid I’m going to let you watch scary movies with your uncle.”
“I know,” Jace said, settling back into the couch.
Clark opened the door and found Chris on the porch, holding a box in his arms. Surprise swiftly followed by panic zipped through Clark and he squeaked embarrassingly. “Chris! I thought we were taking the day off.”
“We are, but I brought this down from the wife and me. It’s my magic healing chicken noodle soup and a bunch of vitamins Victoria thought you needed.” Clark took the box from him and Chris called over Clark’s shoulder, “How is the boy feeling?”
“Jace, Chris is here and brought you some things.”
Jace got up from the couch and stopped alongside Clark in the open doorway. “Hi. I’m feeling better.”
“You eat all of this soup and you’ll feel like Superman.”
Jace made a face at the DC superhero and Clark nudged him. “Superman is pretty cool, huh?”
Jace took the hint and nodded. “Thank you for the soup.”
“You’re welcome, Jace. You can go back to resting.”
“Do you want to come in?” Clark asked.
“No, you look like you’re getting ready to head out.”
