Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54028 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54028 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Samantha and I had done our best to check in with both Claire and Jack.
For that reason alone, Jack deserved to wake up to at least an acknowledgment tomorrow. Not to mention a bit of reassurance. I didn’t want to lose the significance I’d played in his life.
If he had time, maybe we could meet for lunch. Maybe we could talk. Or simply do something to smooth over the admission and make sure things didn’t get awkward in the future, because there was no reason for that to happen.
My mind instantly went a step further, and I couldn’t help but wonder why we had to adhere to old rules and social conduct. Would it be wrong if we became more open with each other? If Jack indeed moved back to DC, would it be wrong if we became friends?
As far as I knew, we weren’t forced to meet up once a year for a rigid dinner where we played it safe and discussed work, family, and the weather.
After finishing my last drink, I set the glass on the drink cart and tried to clear my head. It was time to start over and extend an invitation to something new.
I have all the patience in the world for family, Jack, and that’s what you are to me. You’re also someone I would like to get to know better. I apologize for having been reserved and somewhat difficult to talk to.
In the wake of my divorce from your aunt, may I propose we start over and find something that suits the two of us? We don’t have to be the same people we’ve been. I have no desire to be lifeless and predictable any longer, and you certainly don’t have to clean up your language on my account.
My schedule is flexible. Do let me know when you have time for lunch or dinner again.
I raked my teeth over my bottom lip, read the text once and twice, then sent it off. But I wasn’t entirely satisfied leaving everything up to him, so I decided then and there that I was going to the gym tomorrow. He definitely worked out; perhaps he’d like to join me.
I shared the location of my gym with him and added one more text.
I’ll be here at nine AM tomorrow. Then I might get waffles for breakfast on the way home. You’re welcome to join me if you’re not busy. Goodnight, Jack.
3
He’s here.
I removed one earbud as he stepped up on the treadmill next to mine, and I spoke, completely out of breath. “You’re late.”
He smirked cockily, a contrast to the tentative warmth and sleep in his eyes. He’d just rolled out of bed, hadn’t he? And he wasn’t quite sure where he had me yet.
“I’m never late. The world’s constantly early.” With that said, he inserted his own earbuds and picked a warm-up program.
I smiled to myself and let one of Tate’s playlists fill my ears again.
It felt good. He’d shown up. He was here. I wasn’t nervous or uncomfortable. It wasn’t going to be a semiformal dinner at a nice place. We weren’t in suits. We were running side by side instead, my tee was already drenched in sweat, and his hair was messy.
We should’ve done this yesterday.
Then Jack was going to be Jack. As in, fifteen years younger than me. Not only did he speed up after a few minutes and run like some athlete, but he neatly placed his personal phone and his work phone on the display in front of him. And I remembered those days, when work was the constant companion. For years, I’d been available twenty-four seven.
In a sheer Dad-joke moment, I dug through the pockets of my shorts and found the key card to my locker, a stick of gum, and one of Lily’s hair ties, and I placed them just as neatly on my own display.
Jack side-eyed me and burst out a laugh.
I smirked, utterly satisfied, and kept running at a more moderate pace.
On another note, I should get the same earbuds he had. Tate and Kingsley had those AirPods too. Mine weren’t wireless, so I had my phone strapped to my arm.
“Fuck, that felt good.” Jack jumped off the treadmill, breathing heavily, and chugged from his water bottle.
I couldn’t form words yet, I was panting so heavily. Hell, I couldn’t even step off the treadmill. I just stood there, bent over, hands on my thighs, torn-out earbuds dangling down my chest, and tried to breathe.
Why had he kept running for so long? Why?
Why had I felt the need to last as long as him?
“Are you okay, Unc?”
I shook my head and heaved a breath. “You just kept running. Why did you keep running?”
He chuckled breathlessly and came closer.
My legs were goddamn jelly.
“Want me to see if they have a stretcher?” he teased.