Chapter 14 #2
A snort comes from the other side of the seat, and for a second I almost smile, until Josh doubles down with another sigh so heavy I’m surprised the windows don’t fog up.
A few minutes later, I pull up to the school and they tumble out with their backpacks.
I watch them go, my chest doing that familiar tight little squeeze—because no matter how much they complain, they’re my whole world—and then I head toward the café.
When I pull into my usual spot, I spot Gina’s car. And another one. Rowyn’s. I pause, hand still on the steering wheel. Why do I suddenly feel like I’m walking into an intervention? Which is ridiculous. They wouldn’t.
Would they?
I grab my bag and head inside, bracing myself just in case. The bell over the door jingles, and both Gina and Rowyn look up at the exact same time.
“Hey,” they say in unison, smiling like they haven’t been waiting for me. Now it feels even more like a set up.
“What are you guys doing here so early?” I ask, narrowing my eyes slightly as I walk toward them. Gina owns the place, but she also has kids and a morning routine that usually doesn’t involve coffee at the café.
“Zoe went to school with a friend,” Gina says casually. “And Grant took little Grant to preschool.”
I grin despite myself. “I still love that you guys named him after his grandfather. Grant is so good with the kids. All the kids, actually.” He really embraces being grandpa to all the players kids, including my own.
Her smile is warm. “Grant really loves it.”
My heart squeezes a little, as Rowyn leans forward, one hand on her very obvious baby bump and the other wrapped around a cinnamon roll the size of her face.
“We needed girl time,” she says. “And carbs.”
“Mostly carbs,” Gina adds.
Rowyn takes a huge bite, clearly proving her point, then nudges a chair out with her foot. “Sit. For a minute.”
I grab a coffee—because if I am being interrogated, I’m at least going to be caffeinated for it—and slide into the chair.
And that’s when Gina looks at me. Not a casual glance. Not a quick once-over. No. A full-on, scan-your-soul, what-have-you-been-up-to kind of look. I immediately become very interested in my coffee. Like…deeply interested. Some would say fascinated, even.
“Did you and the boys stay at Tuck’s?” Rowyn asks.
I blink. Slowly looking up.
“Well,” she continues. “Actually, I know you did. I saw your car this morning.”
Right. Of course she did. There goes any chance of pretending otherwise. Not that I need to. I’m there because of Marbles. They don’t know what Tuck and I have been doing.
Right?
“Yeah,” I admit, blowing on my coffee even though it’s not that hot. “The boys are kind of obsessed with Marbles. It still feels weird leaving him at Tuck’s though.”
“It’s temporary,” Gina says easily. “Until you get a bigger place, right?”
I nod…but my stomach does this weird flip thing, and suddenly the coffee doesn’t feel nearly as comforting.
Because while that’s the plan, the timeline is way off.
I stare down into my cup, debating. Measuring.
Overthinking and then, “Well…” I start, then stop.
Then start again. “That might be later rather than sooner.”
Both of them look confused.
“Why?” Gina asks, not pushy, but curious.
I take a breath. “I haven’t really told anyone yet. I mean, my family knows and…Tuck knows, but—” I glance between them. “I’ve gone back to school. I’m taking night classes at Boston University.”
“Boston university,” Rowyn says. “That’s where Declan teaches.”
I nod, well aware of that. “I’m doing my undergrad. I’d like to go to law school.”
Their eyes go wide. “Maria, that is amazing,” Gina says.
Rowyn’s hand lands on my arm. “I’m so happy for you.”
Relief floods through me so fast it almost makes me dizzy. “It’s just…a lot,” I admit, exhaling a shaky laugh. “I’m excited, but I’m also kind of terrified. And the boys, and work, and—”
Gina is grinning.
“What?” I ask, immediately suspicious again.
She leans back, crossing her arms, looking entirely too pleased with herself. “You told Tuck.”
It’s not a question. It’s a statement…that speaks volumes.
“Yeah,” I say slowly. “I mean…he saw my books when he drove the kids home from family skate, and I have to study when I’m at his place, so—”
“So—” Gina tilts her head, eyes sparkling with that oh I know something you don’t want me to say out loud but I absolutely will anyway energy. “It’s not my business,” she says. “But…how long have you two been sleeping together?”
“Oh my God.” I nearly choke on my coffee, the cup rattling against the table as I slam it down a little too hard. Hot liquid sloshes over the edge, and Rowyn is instantly in motion, grabbing napkins and mopping it up before it can drip into my lap.
“Gina,” she warns, not even looking up. “It’s not our business.”
“I know,” Gina says easily, completely unbothered as she leans forward, elbows on the table, eyes locked on me. “I opened with that.”
Which…she did. Technically.
“But,” she continues, lowering her voice like this is somehow more subtle, “I knew something was up when I saw you staring at him with your vagina.”
Rowyn loses it. Like, full, head-back, can’t-breathe, pregnant-lady-laughing-so-hard-it’s-a-risk kind of loses it.
“Where do you come up with this stuff?” she gasps between laughs.