Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94639 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94639 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
“Does she know—”
He doesn’t even have to finish his question for me to know what he’s asking. “No,” I say, cutting him off.
“Landon… You have to tell her.”
“I know. I just… fuck, it was a long time ago.” I scrub my palms up and down my face in frustration. “I will.”
Twenty-Three
Harper
“Both of you need to jump in the shower,” I yell to the kids as they run upstairs. “You have camp in the morning, so you need to get ready for bed soon.”
My phone vibrates in my purse for the millionth time, and since I know they’ll be upstairs for a little while, I answer it. “Richard.”
“You said you would call me back,” he says. No hello, how are you doing? Just straight to the point.
“And I just walked in the door. What’s so urgent?” I ask as I walk into my room to change into some comfier clothes.
“What’s going on with you and Maxwell?”
I snort out a laugh. “Is there a reason you’re referring to him by his last name now?”
“Harper, I asked you a question.” Richard’s tone doesn’t sit well with me. He hasn’t paid this much attention to what I do in… well, ever.
“Landon and I are dating,” I say. As the words roll off my tongue, they feel right. Maybe the most right thing I’ve felt in years.
“He’s a player, Harper.”
“What he is or isn’t is not your concern. I’ve never, not once, questioned the many women you’ve brought around our children. So, I would appreciate it if you would not question who I’m bringing into our kids’ lives.” My fist clenches around the phone and tears burn my eyes as I work myself up. “I have rolled with every damn punch over the last twelve years. Now it’s your turn.”
“Samantha and I broke up,” he says. “You’re right. I’ve done a poor job at picking out women to be part of our lives. But Landon isn’t right either.”
How dare he! I’ve always known Richard wasn’t a fan of Landon’s, and it probably didn’t help that I was heartbroken throughout my pregnancy, but the way he’s acting is crazy. I could’ve cheated on him for years while we were married and he wouldn’t have noticed. Now that we’re divorced and I’m finally moving on, he wants to suddenly pay attention. Not happening.
“I’m sorry it didn’t work out with Samantha, but you don’t get to make that decision for me. I haven’t once brought a single man around our kids since our divorce. That alone should say something. This conversation is over.”
Richard is quiet for a long moment before he says, “Fine. I was thinking I could take the kids this weekend.”
Seriously? Am I being secretly recorded? Is someone playing a joke on me? “I thought you were moving…”
“I decided not to take the position,” he says, shocking the hell out of me.
“Why?” Call me curious…
“Moving away from my family isn’t what’s best. Maybe in a few years I can reconsider.”
“That’s good. Unfortunately, it’s my weekend, though, and we have plans.”
“Doing what?”
“Landon is helping Ella build a balance beam.”
“What about Sunday?” Oh, buddy, we are not about to play this game.
“Richard, it’s my weekend,” I say, trying to keep my cool.
“Fine, then I want to take them during the week.”
I roll my eyes. “Okay… have at it. Your days are Mondays and Wednesdays. You missed Monday…” Which was yesterday. “But you can take them tomorrow.”
“Fine,” he snaps.
“Will you be picking them up from camp or from the house?” I ask sweetly, knowing it will only piss him off more.
“I guess camp.”
Wow! Finally stepping up… I guess better late than never. “Sounds good. Goodbye, Richard,” I say, then end the call without waiting for him to say goodbye.
After I put the kids to bed, I’m settling into my own bed to read, when my phone pings with a text. I consider not checking it. If it’s Richard, I might throw my phone against a wall and shatter it. And that will just piss me off further. It pings again, and I give in. It could be Bridget or my mom.
Butterflies swarm in my belly when I see who it is.
Landon: I’m lying in bed thinking about you. What are you up to?
Landon: I hope Dick didn’t give you too much shit for me crashing your night.
I laugh out loud at the nickname for Richard, remembering he used to call him that when we were in high school.
Me: Just put the kids to bed a little bit ago. I’m in bed too.
Then, before I second-guess myself, I type out one more text and hit send.
Me: I told him we’re dating…
I hold my breath as the bubbles appear, indicating he’s typing. When they disappear, I wonder if maybe I overstepped, so I add: Is that okay?
Landon: Is that your way of asking me to be your boyfriend?