Chapter 34
IN THE PENALTY BOX
WILL
It was Sunday, the day of Bebe’s party. I’d been up since sunrise, trying to shake the restless feeling that had settled in my gut. I was going to be at Natalie’s home with her husband.
Madison was grounded for drinking on Friday night, so she wasn’t going to the barn to ride after all. Instead, she was at home with her brothers, holed up in her room while Chase and Carter ignored her drama and buried themselves in video games.
I stood in the kitchen, drinking coffee. Ivy sat at the counter, swinging her little feet and clutching the birthday card she made for Bebe.
“Did you remember the present?” she asked, her tone suspicious, as if I couldn’t be trusted.
“I got it, kiddo,” I grinned, holding up the wrapped box, “Don’t worry.”
She gave me a satisfied nod. “Pool bag?”
“By the door.”
“Snacks for me in case I don’t like the cake?”
“Yes.” I sighed dramatically. “Got those too. Anything else, Your Highness?”
“Nope,” Ivy said, beaming as she hopped off her chair.
I smiled, feeling momentarily lighter. It was moments like this, the easy rhythm of the morning, doing the dad thing, that made everything feel normal again, even if only for a few minutes.
When we arrived at Natalie’s, her backyard was already teeming with kids who were running, laughing, and splashing in the pool.
The scene was pure sun-soaked madness in the best way.
Bright pool floats bobbed on the water, the kids shouted with glee, parents mingled in small noisy clusters, and the smell of sunscreen mixed with pizza and Doritos.
Before I could even figure out what to do with myself, a tall, dark-haired man walked over. I knew immediately who he was.
“Welcome to the chaos,” he said, extending a hand with a friendly smile. “I’m Jason.”
I hesitated for half a second before taking his hand. “Will,” I said, keeping my tone neutral.
Jason seemed solid, handsome, exactly the kind of guy you’d expect Natalie to be married to.
Before the silence could stretch, Natalie appeared, her face flushed and her smile bright.
“Hi,” she said quickly, stepping between us. “Come on, Ivy. Let’s get you to the pool.”
Ivy grabbed her pool bag and ran off with Natalie, leaving me standing alone again with Jason.
“Blackhawks fan?” I asked, nodding toward the TV inside, where a hockey game played.
Jason’s face lit up. “Yeah, I’m from Chicago. Been a fan for life.”
That was all it took to get us talking about hockey, teams we liked, who had the best shot at the playoffs, and which players were overrated.
It was easy, natural, the kind of small talk you make with another dad at a kid’s party.
But the whole time, I couldn’t shake the tight feeling in my chest. Jason had no idea.
He was just being nice, offering me a beer and talking about sports, while I was standing in his house, fucking his wife on the side.
I stayed to the side as much as possible after that, blending into the background.
I focused on Ivy, who was happily cannonballing off the ledge of the pool and shrieking with laughter.
I tried not to let my eyes drift toward Natalie, who moved fluidly between groups of parents, handing out drinks, cutting slices of cake, making it all look so easy.
At one point, I spot Camille lounging on a patio chair.
I can’t help but flash back to Natalie’s girls night with her and Meredith; that one night that poured gasoline on the flame and jump started this all.
“Well, look who it is,” Camille said when she saw me, her voice teasing. “Will, right?” “Hey, Camille,” I said cautiously, walking over.
She smirked, sliding her sunglasses down just enough to meet my gaze. “Didn’t expect to see you here today.”
“Birthday party for Ivy’s friend,” I said, keeping my voice neutral.
Camille gave a knowing nod, the corners of her mouth curling into a smile. “Sure. That’s what today’s about, but I’m guessing this is a little weird for you.”
I didn’t respond, and she laughed softly.
“Relax. I think you and Natalie are good together,” she added, her tone casual but pointed.
I froze. “You think so?”
Camille shrugged, pushing her sunglasses back up. “I have eyes, and for what it’s worth, I’m not judging. You two make sense.”
I glanced around, suddenly hyper aware of the backyard and Jason chatting with another dad across the pool. “Camille, you—”
“Don’t worry. I’m not saying anything,” she interrupted, waving a hand dismissively. “I’m just here for the party favors and free drinks. But let’s just say I approve.”
Her approval made me feel worse. I wasn’t sure what I’d expected from Camille. Sympathy, disapproval, silence—but the idea that she thought this was okay only made the whole situation feel messier.
The hours dragged on. The kids swam, ate cake, hit the pinata, and then swam again. Jason wandered over to me once more, holding out a beer.
“Here,” he said.
“Thanks,” I said, taking it.
We stood in silence for a moment, both of us watching the party unfold. “Natalie’s really good at this stuff,” Jason said, nodding toward her. “She’s been planning this for weeks.”
“It shows,” I replied automatically, my voice catching slightly.
Jason didn’t seem to notice. He just smiled and went back to mingling, leaving me with my thoughts.
By the time the party wound down, I was ready to bolt. I grabbed Ivy, who was pink-cheeked and dripping wet, and told her to thank Natalie before we left.
Ivy ran up to Natalie, throwing her arms around her waist. “Thanks, Natalie! I wish you could be my other mommy.”
Natalie froze for the briefest second before letting out a soft laugh. “Oh, sweet girl,” she said, brushing a hand through Ivy’s hair. She looked at me quickly, and we shared one of those awkward glances that said more than it should.
“Okay, silly girl, let’s go,” I said, stepping in to pull Ivy away.
As we walked to the back gate, Jason caught me one last time.
“Nice to meet you,” he said, holding out a hand.
“You, too,” I replied, shaking it firmly.
Camille, still lounging on her chair, called out to me quietly as I passed, “Until next time,, Will.” Her voice was low and knowing, like she had the inside scoop on everything.
The drive home was quiet, but Ivy broke the silence. “That was fun. Can I go to Bebe’s house again soon?”
“Sure,” I said, my voice rough.
“Do you like Natalie?” Ivy asked suddenly. “She’s really nice.”
I gripped the steering wheel, staring straight ahead. “Yeah, she’s nice,” I said carefully. I wondered if all the kids were picking up on the fact that something was going on between Natalie and me.
Ivy nodded, satisfied, and went back to humming to herself.
But me? I couldn’t stop thinking about Jason, about the easy way he’d offered me a beer and talked hockey. He was just a good guy, living his life, while I was…what? Sneaking around with his wife.
I pulled into the driveway and sat there for a minute with my hands still on the wheel.
“Are you okay, Daddy?” Ivy asked softly.
I turned to her, forcing a smile. “Yeah, kiddo. Let’s get inside.”
As I carried her pool bag in and helped her upstairs to shower, the weight in my chest grew heavier. I felt like a huge asshole, just waiting for the whistle to blow.