Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 47254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
“I should put that on my logo,” I teased, pleased when he gave me a hint of that sweet sunshine grin. Fuck, I wanted more of that.
“Tawdry, tantalizing, tasty treats. It has a certain ring.”
“It does,” I agreed, trying to think of a reason to stay with him even though my teeth chattered in my skull. “You need a ride to the station?”
“No, thank you. I like to walk.”
“Okay. Later, Theo.”
“Good-bye, Scott.”
He nodded—or I think he did. It was more of a slight tilt of the head, and then he was gone. I watched him move down the cobblestone street until the green pom-pom on top of his beanie disappeared from view.
My hands were cold, I couldn’t feel my toes, and I’d bet anything my cheeks were red from the wind. But you know, I felt pretty damn good.
And then I didn’t.
“Emmett wanted me to pass along a video game message.”
“Where is he? I thought he’d want to FaceTime with his cool Uncle Scott.” I guzzled half a beer and let out a mighty belch, earning an automatic growl of disapproval from my sister.
“He’s with his dad this week, and you’re gross.” Heather glowered, emphasizing those last two words with a tap on her screen.
I put my hand on my chest and widened my eyes. “Me?”
“Yeah, you.”
“Well, tell him I miss him and I’ll text him later.” I waited for her nod, then asked, “What was his video game message?”
Heather flipped her long, dark hair over her shoulder and shrugged. It reminded me of something our mom would do. And the old cuckoo clock hanging on the wall of her office behind her head once belonged to our grandparents, which reminded me of family. Fuck, I missed them.
I wasn’t sure I was in the right state of mind for a call from home. I didn’t know what my problem was. I’d been off since yesterday morning. Fine, but not fine. Sad but not sure I had a real reason to be.
“Em wants to trade his quarterback for the one on the tiger team,” my sister said, pulling me from my reverie.
“That sentence makes zero sense. There’s no tiger team in football.”
“They have orange outfits…like Tony the Tiger.”
We’d had the “uniforms, not outfits or costumes” conversation more times than I could count, so I let that one slide.
“The Bengals?” I offered.
“Maybe. Em said you’d know. He also said you hadn’t been playing online as much. And now I have to go all big sister on you and ask if everything’s okay.”
“I’m fine.” And if I repeated it often enough, it would be true. I slouched against the sofa cushion and propped my feet on the coffee table. “Just busy with work.”
“Tsk, tsk. All work and no play make Scotty a very dull boy,” she singsonged.
“Guilty.”
“Have you been dating at all?”
I gave her a WTF look and countered, “Are you dating anyone?”
My sister huffed. “Oh, God no. But I have terrible taste in men.”
“You do,” I agreed.
“Hey.”
“So do I.”
“No, you have terrible timing,” she joked.
I flipped her off but nodded. “You’re right. I do.”
Heather’s chuckle turned into a sigh. “I didn’t want to bring this up, but…I saw him.”
“Who?”
“Jack.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I scoffed.
“I get it. I just thought you might want to know.”
“You already told me he moved back to Seattle,” I reminded her.
“But this isn’t exactly a small town, and it was a little random to actually run into him.”
“You talked to him?”
“Mmhmm. I was dragging Darcy into the vet’s office and yelling at the guy at the door to hold it open for me, and…it was Jack.” She paused a beat, adding, “And his wife.”
“Oh.”
“His pregnant wife.”
Oh.
I squinted at the television in anticipation of a wave of something unpleasant washing over me and ripping open old wounds. Not so long ago, it had physically hurt to think about him. I mean, that was supposed to be us. Two dads, two kids, two dogs, a bakery. It had been a plan. A done deal.
Until it wasn’t.
I wasn’t sure what to say to that, and my sister’s crafty FaceTime call didn’t leave me with any wiggle room to feign total indifference. I tried anyway.
“That’s nice. I hope you congratulated them,” I replied nonchalantly.
“Yeah, I did. I’m a big girl. But…I aimed my happy gushes at his wife’s belly. He or she can’t help it that their daddy is a—”
“Let it go, Sis,” I advised with a weak laugh. “It’s been a long time.”
Seven years to be exact.
“I thought you should know, but I don’t want to waste a precious FaceTime call talking about that dipshit.” She switched to a faux-British accent and continued, “You’re going to meet a lovely English…person with a hot, single older brother who’s hoping to meet a single mom from Seattle. I just know it. Does Becca have a brother? I’m still hoping you fall for her and—”