19. Chapter 19
We can use the neighbors driveway, I tell Foster as we drive up to Emma and Matt’s house. There are cars parked everywhere along the street. He pulls in, where I point, and Cole and Talon jump out of the car to open the hatch and grab the presents from the back. All three guys insisted on buying something for my honorary niece, and I cant wait to spoil her.
When we walk into the yard, the party guests get quiet. It makes quite an impression arriving with a pro athlete and a famous musician. I feel self-conscious, but none of the guys even pause. Were halfway to where the tents and tables are set up when a curly-haired hellion launches herself at me. Tee Bwake! You came!
I sweep Cora into my arms and hold on. Happy third birthday, pumpkin.
Her little arms tighten around me, and I hold on, missing her so much. Knowing shes growing up quickly, I vow to visit her more often. Once she catches a look at the guys and everything theyre hauling, she wriggles to get down.
Are those all for me? she asks in awe.
Foster chuckles at her, Of course, all for the birthday girl.
Oh, I know you, she says to him.
This is Foster and Talon and Cole, I point them out to her, but shes barely paying attention. The brightly wrapped presents have her hypnotized.
Oh no, those are not all coming into this house, Emma says as she hurries towards us.
Mommy, those are mine, Cora argues with her.
And we dont have room for them. Maybe Auntie Blake needs to make a playroom at her house.
Cora contemplates that until a friend comes up to take her back to play.
Did you buy out the friggin toy store? Emma asks me.
It was all of them. I bought the toy computer like we agreed on, I insist.
Is there somewhere we can put these all? Cole asks from behind the stack in front of him.
Emma leads us all to the present table, and the guys set the boxes down. I look around and spot some familiar faces.
Looks like you have a good turnout, I tell Emma.
Yeah, Coras got some friends from preschool, and some of Matts coworkers, and, of course, both our families, She points to a table across from us, Theres your mom and Coles sitting together. I think they were leaving room for all of you.
As were chatting, Matt walks up with another man. I hug him, “Hey Matt.”
When I step back, I look at the man who came with him and recognize him, “Oh, hi Chris,” I say, feeling awkward. It’s not like I even consider him an ex, but we rounded the bases together, which makes this feel a little weird.
Em, my mom wants to know when you want to put out the food, Matt tells Emma, distracting everyone.
We leave them to deal with that situation and head to the table with Mom and Mrs. Thorne. I lean in to hug and kiss my mom, and Cole does the same with his.
I didnt expect to see you two come together, Mrs. Thorne says.
She was at the house. Shes dating… he looks between Foster and Talon, unsure how to proceed.
Me, the two of them say, practically in sync.
My mom, already aware of my dating situation, doesn’t react. I was initially nervous to tell her, but she’s supported me being happy over everything else as long as no one gets hurt.
Both of them, I confirm.
Mrs. Thorne is shocked, going on the blank look on her face. She opens her mouth, probably to ask us a question, but Cole nudges her and shakes his head.
We all sit down at the table. The silence is stifling until my mom says, Blake, youll have to invite your boyfriends for dinner. I would love to get the chance to get to know them better, and Im sure Stacy wouldnt mind having Cole and his friends over.
Id love to have dinner with you all, Foster says to her with his most charming smile.
Ill be there, but only if we can watch Home Renovations, Talon says, making my mom laugh. Foster looks over and gives him a confused look.
What? Talon asks. Mrs. Knox and I love that show.
Since when did you get an in with our girlfriends mom before me? Foster says incredulously, making all of us laugh.
We sit and talk amongst our group, but I can feel the looks we get from the tables around us. I can almost hear the whispers as the gossip spreads, making my skin crawl. Nothing stays hidden in a small town for long. By tomorrow, everyone will know Im dating two of the towns most desirable bachelors. Im enemy number one to all of the single women.
“Blake,” someone calls out as I leave the bathroom to go back outside.
It’s Olivia Hammond, my frenemy from grade school. She was always closer to Emma but mostly rude to me because of my close relationship with Cole, the shining star of high school.
“Liv, so good to see you,” I turn and give her my customer service smile. Emma could’ve warned me she’d be here so I could have avoided a confrontation. “I thought you were living in Wisconsin?”
“I moved back about six months ago because I needed a fresh start for my family,” she says.
I remember the rumor going around that her husband was sleeping with his secretary, but the way she’s spinning is that he was a workaholic who never had time for her and their kids. I’m a hypocrite if I buy into the rumor mill of a small town.
“How many kids do you have now?” I ask politely, looking around for my exit strategy.
“I have two. My daughter, Chloe, and Cora are becoming the best of friends. My son is two years older than them. His name is Aiden. How about you? Do you have a husband? Do you have any kids of your own?”
“No, neither. I’ve concentrated on my career, and it’s starting to take off right now.”
I’ve hated that I always need to defend my personal life by pointing out my professional life. I should be confident about my choice to be single over the years.
“How nice. I thought I had heard you were pregnant years ago. It was not long after we graduated.”
I don’t know how, but I manage to stand there straight-faced. My pregnancy was a closely guarded secret, and after the accident, very few people knew that my baby had died. Did Emma say something to Olivia? I can’t imagine that she would’ve been well aware of our contentious relationship. “I was, but I lost the baby,” I tell her, hoping she can take the hint and let it go.
“Oh no, that’s so sad,” she says in the least sympathetic voice I have ever heard. “I saw you come in with Foster and Talon. Did I hear right, and you’re dating both of them?”
“Yep,” I answer, waiting for the slut shaming to begin.
“That’s…interesting. I didn’t know guys would tolerate a relationship like that. And Cole?”
“Not involved,” I answer.
“I’m not surprised. He’s not the type to pass a girl around with his friends like that. I should get his number. Did you know we had something going on when we were in college?”
My stomach clenches. Cole had always insisted that he couldn’t stand her every time I caught her hitting on him behind my back. An arm slides around me to rest on my back, and I look up to see that it’s Cole himself.
Olivia instantly brightens, “Cole, it’s been too long.”
“Hi, Olivia. How’s your husband?” Oh, he’s coming out swinging. His mom is one of the biggest gossips, so it’s no surprise he knows of her situation. I wonder how much of our conversation he overheard.
“I’m divorced. I was asking Blake if you were still with your girlfriend. Maybe I can get your number and go out sometime?”
“I’m not looking to date right now.”
“Not as a date, obviously. Just as friends.,” she backtracks.
“I have all the friends I need. Have a good night,” he tells her and turns me with him to walk away.
“I don’t know why you were ever friends with that bitch,” he says to me when we get far enough away not to be overheard.
“Honestly, neither do I. I have no idea why she was so horrid to me once we hit high school,” I tell him.
“She was jealous. She knew she never had a chance with me if you were in the picture. She could never compete.” he tells me bluntly.
Before I stop myself, I exclaim, “Did the two of you hook up in college?”
“Fuck no. I’ve never had an interest in Olivia. She’s always been annoying and doesn’t have a single thought in her head.”
Emma comes up to us, holding a tray. “Jello shots?” she asks.
I’m not driving and have no kids to look after, so I take a few from the tray. Cole raises his eyebrows at me.
“What? I think I deserve a bit of fun. And I just had to confess in almost public that I’m part of a throuple.”
Cole doesn’t argue. He reaches over and grabs a couple more before returning to our table.