Chapter 37
JINX
Ileft Rachel and the kids to get ready for their respective weekends while I stopped home to get my own bag packed and run a few errands. Little does Rachel know that this weekend away has been on my mind for a while, and I’ve made some plans. Plans that I cannot wait to make happen.
I pull into a parking space in front of Books Beans just as a text lights up my phone.
Rachel: Dropped the kids off at Bobbie Jean’s, but I can’t get a hold of Craig. I don’t feel comfortable leaving town until I do.
The thought makes my chest constrict, but it’s understandable. Do I wish we could just say fuck him and leave? Absolutely. But that’s just asking for trouble.
Me: Fair enough. You want me to find out where he is today?
I took the day off—to say Hayden was shocked when I texted to let her know this morning would be an understatement—but as of our staff meeting on Monday, his crew was set to work on the site for the new dollar store all week. I could do a quick drive-by and solve this problem in five minutes.
Rachel: Do you mind?
Me: Not at all. Give me a few.
Rachel: Thanks, babe.
Babe. Damn, I love that.
While I’m here, I run into the coffee shop for our travel drinks. Becca is behind the counter today, presumably because Bobbie Jean is spending the day with the kids.
“Hey, little cousin.” Becca flashes a bright grin as she tightens her blond ponytail. “I heard a rumor about you.”
I give a light laugh and dig out my wallet. “It’s probably true.”
“Oh, I have no doubt it is.” She leans across the counter and whispers conspiratorially. “Heard you’ve been seen coming and going from a certain kindergarten teacher’s house all summer long.”
I lift a hand and smirk. “Like I said…”
With a laugh, she slugs my shoulder. “Jinx Enders, you sly dog.”
“You don’t have to whisper about it anymore, either. We’re out now.”
She shakes her head and grins, the expression a mix of surprise and approval. “I’m glad to hear it. You shouldn’t have to sneak around.”
“Anyway, we’re headed out of town for the weekend, so I’m here for some liquid sustenance.”
“Ah, I got you. A large Americano for you and an iced chai for the lady coming up.” Winking, she gets to work making the drinks.
While I wait, I head for the books. I’m only slightly embarrassed by the idea of checking out with this particular purchase. Asking Amelia for a recommendation has been the worst part of my scheming, by far. She knew damn well why I was asking, but she had to throw out a few guesses for fun, including my inability to get it up and my lack of skill when it comes to getting my girl off without a little smut to help. Putting the book on the counter for Becca is far less painful. In fact, rather than razz me as she rings me up for the paperback and the coffee, all she does is smile and zip her lips.
Book tucked under my arm and coffee in hand, I head back to my truck. I’ve got the drinks situated in the cupholders and I’m just about to climb inside when a familiar truck pulls up behind me, almost like I manifested the asshole.
I shut the driver’s door and lift my chin to Craig as he hops out. “Hey, man. Rachel’s been trying to get a hold of you.”
He has sunglasses on, so I can’t see his eyes, but I imagine my knowledge of that has got him spitting daggers.
He stuffs his hands into the pockets of his jeans and steps forward. “Yeah, I just got her texts.”
I lean against the rear fender of my truck, considering whether I should say more. Rachel wanted to talk to him herself, but I can’t help but feel like he and I still have a few things to clear up.
“You going out of town with her, too?” he asks, finally removing his sunglasses and hanging them from the collar of his T-shirt.
“I am. Figure she could use some time away before school starts up again.”
“So, this is a real thing, then? The two of you?”
I nod. It’s strange, the way elation courses through me, mixing with apprehension now that I’m face to face with Craig. “It is.”
Grunting, he scans our surroundings for a long moment. “I’m gonna be honest, man. I know I’m not supposed to care, but I do. I care a fucking lot.”
“I get that. I’d rather you care than not give a shit. It tells me you probably want what’s best for her.”
He swallows hard and meets my eye. “I do. I know that might be hard to believe after the last couple of months, but I don’t wish her any ill will. I might want to jack you in the face right now, but Rachel… she’s the mother of my children.”
Damn if that single sentence doesn’t ease my mind in a way I never would have expected. I give him a smile. “I’ve wanted to punch you plenty, too, so I guess we’ve got that in common.”
He scoffs, then says, “Yeah, I probably deserve it.”
Yep. Not going to argue with him about that.
“Just promise me you’re not playing around, man. I don’t think I can walk away right now if I’m not clear on that.”
I lower my head and give it a shake. “No offense,” I say, focusing on him again so he can see how serious I am, “but I’m not promising you anything.” My relationship is with Rachel, not him. “But I have promised her, and that’s the best I can give you.”
He holds my gaze for a moment, then dips his chin. “Fair enough.”
“You should still call her, though. She wants to talk to you about this herself.”
He runs a hand over his bristled jaw. “All right. I can do that.”
I push off the truck and pull in a breath. “Are we good, then? Or am I going to have to watch my back?”
The faintest smirk flickers across his face. “We’re as good as we can be. Unless you do something to hurt my kids.”
I hold up my hands and wince at the verbal blow that hit me straight in the chest. “You’ve got nothing to worry about where that’s concerned. I love those kids.”
He flinches at that last statement, but I don’t take it back. I won’t apologize. I do love them, and if he has a problem with that, then maybe we need to have another conversation.
“I’m not trying to replace you. That I can promise you.”
He surveys me, brows lifted, and his expression softens. Like maybe he’s actually paying attention and can see my sincerity. “I appreciate that.”
I resist the urge to clap him on the back like we’re old friends. Instead, I take a step back. “I’ve gotta get going.”
“Yeah, me, too. I’ll call her, though.”
“I think she’d appreciate that.” I offer a smile, hopeful that he means what he says. It’ll be a hell of a lot easier for everyone—especially the kids—if we keep this civil.
He starts for the coffee shop door but pauses before he goes inside. “By the way, Jesse told me that things are gonna be changing at EE. For your sake, I hope that means what I think it does.”
Jesse’s been talking, huh? Can’t deny that a little flicker of satisfaction doesn’t hit me. I guess he meant what he said last night, too.
I bite back a grin. “I do, too, man. I do, too.”
RACHEL
At the soundof tires crunching on the gravel in the driveway, I hurry around the house one last time to make sure the windows are all closed and that I didn’t leave anything unnecessary plugged in. Justin should let himself in, so I quickly double-check my small pull-along suitcase while I’m at it, too. I have no idea what he has planned, so I packed a swimsuit and that navy dress I’ve been dying to wear. I want that to be a surprise, so in the suitcase it went, rather than in a garment bag. I’ll just have to iron it. I might’ve tucked Prince inside, too. Just in case. Though based on my experience with Justin, I probably won’t need him.
A knock on the front door startles me—and makes my cheeks flush. I hurry to zip up the suitcase before calling out for Justin to come in.
But it isn’t his voice that sounds down my hall. No. This one has my heart lurching rather than somersaulting. “Ray?”
Shit. Craig.
Why didn’t he just call me back?
Probably because you tried to call five times like a crazy person.
“Uh, hi.” I force a smile as I round the corner with my suitcase in hand. “I’m sorry. I know I called a few times, but this isn’t an emergency.”
He eyes the suitcase and shuffles inside, but he remains close to the door. “I know. I read your texts. I was nearby, so I figured I’d stop by before I head back to work.”
“Ah.” I park the suitcase next to the table, where my purse, toiletry bag, and phone charger are ready to go. “I already dropped the kids off at Bobbie’s. I told her you’d be by around five-thirty.”
He nods casually, his demeanor ten times more relaxed than the last time he was here. “Sounds good.” Then, he adds, “I ran into Jinx in town just now.”
“Oh.” And he’s not spitting venom? Huh.
“Wasn’t hard to figure out that it’s him you’re going away with.”
I wring my hands together, bracing myself for the other shoe to drop.
“He’s not a bad guy, Ray. I just didn’t expect to feel this way about you seeing someone else.” His brow creases with a sincere, almost pained expression that shocks me after how angry and irrational he’s been about Justin and me up until now. “Splitting up was the right thing. For both of us. And I obviously didn’t wait long to move on, but it’s gonna take some getting used to, knowing you’ve found someone new.”
Now he knows how I felt all those months ago. “It isn’t easy, is it?”
He hooks his thumbs in his pockets and shakes his head. “No, it isn’t. And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry for making you feel the same. Shit, I didn’t even give you a month.”
The laugh I let out is soft, but it’s laced with plenty of bitterness. I’m as over it as I’ll ever be, but the principle of it still irritates me. We were married for twelve years and together for fifteen.
“I’ve started therapy,” he admits so quietly that I’m not sure I’ve heard him correctly until I see the tears in his eyes. Tears he quickly blinks back with a sniff. “Probably should have done it a long time ago. Turns out I have a lot of shit to work through.”
I don’t doubt that. He didn’t have the easiest of childhoods either, and obviously, our marriage had its issues, too.
“I’m not sure why I’m telling you this.” He shrugs and gives me a facsimile of a smile. “I guess maybe I just wanted you to know that I’m really not trying to be an asshole.”
I gulp down the lump forming in my throat. “Thank you for telling me.”
With his lips twisted to one side, he ducks his head, scuffs a shoe along the floor in the entryway. “I might want to bring the kids with me at some point, too. If that’s okay with you.”
“Of course.”
“And,” he says, his voice hoarse. He clears his throat and focuses on my face, his eyes earnest. “I hope he makes you happy.”
That confession was definitely not on my bingo card. The little sob that escapes me in response is such a surprise, I don’t have a chance to stop it.
“He does,” I whisper. Sniffing, I chase away my tears with the back of my hand. “I hope you find what it is you’re looking for, too.”
He gives a sheepish shrug. “Still trying to figure that out, but I’ll get there.”
I hope he does. Mason and Emma deserve the best version of their father he can give them.
“I should get going.” He tips his head toward the door. “Jesse’s probably blowing up my phone, wondering where the hell I am, and Jinx is probably parked around the corner, waiting for me to leave.”
I expected Justin to be here by now, so it’s possible.
“Thanks for coming by.” I give him a gentle smile.
“Have a good time this weekend. I’ll see you Sunday afternoon.” He pushes the screen door open. “Let me know if you’re gonna be late coming home. I can keep the kids longer.”
The easy offer nearly bowls me over. He’s just full of surprises today, isn’t he? “Thanks,” I say, keeping the surprise out of my tone. “I’ll keep you posted.”
He steps out onto the porch just as Justin pulls into the driveway. “Fucking guy,” he mutters under his breath.
I laugh. “What was that?”
He shakes his head as he clambers down the steps. “I’m working on it, all right?”
“Uh-huh.”
Justin strides are way, lifting a hand in greeting, and Craig lifts his chin in return. I never imagined the day when my ex-husband and my boyfriend would pass each other in the driveway, and so casually, at that.
“Everything okay?” Justin asks, brushing a kiss to the top of my head when he meets me at the door.
“Believe it or not, yes. What did you say to him when you saw him in town?”
“Honestly, not much. He seems good, though, huh?”
“He does.” I watch as Craig rolls by, lifting a hand as he passes. “It’s strange.”
He frowns. “Strange like we should be worried?”
“No.” I shake my head. “Strange like maybe everything is going to be okay after all.”
A crooked smile lifts one corner of his mouth. “Of course it’s gonna be okay.” He snags my hand and pulls me to him. “Because, when it’s you and me, ain’t nothing gonna stand in our way.”
He’s such a cheeseball, but I love him all the more for it.
Smoothing my hands up his chest, I bite my lip. “You ready to get this weekend started?”
He swings me up into his arms like I weigh nothing at all. “Oh, Sunny girl, I am more than ready. The question is, are you?”