This was the kind of morning I used to daydream about before I married Troy. I’d wanted what I’d had growing up. The reality, however, had been nothing like what I’d envisioned, and I’d resigned myself to believing that was just a fantasy. No one lived like that anymore.
Apparently, I was wrong.
It wasn’t fair.
Gabe set a plate of pancakes in front of me, and I picked up a knife and fork from the pile someone had set down on the table as I replied, “Thank you. This looks great.”
My heart skipped a beat when he smiled at me.
“Of course.” He shot me a wink and added, “Chilli.”
Oh, Gretchen. What have you done. You stupid, stupid girl.
****
Gabe
“Um, I’m sorry but we’re not going to be able to make it to bowling tonight,” Gretchen said as she stared at the few bites of pancakes remaining on her plate.
Britt’s head shot up to stare at her.
“Why?”
“I forgot I told my parents we’d visit them. We’re going to spend the night at their house. I’m so sorry I forgot all about it when we talked yesterday.”
My daughter dragged the tines of her fork through the syrup on her plate.
“That’s okay; we can wait until Sunday. That works out better anyway because Brayden can go with us then.”
“Oh—I, I’m not sure what time we’ll be back Sunday.”
Yeah, that wasn’t going to work. I’d give her tonight, maybe she needed a break from me and my kids, but she was the one who’d agreed with Britt to bowling in the first place.
“I thought you were tutoring Brayden Sunday. We can go once you’re done.”
Brittany chimed in, “Yeah, we’re supposed to be celebrating my A, remember?”
Gretchen offered a weary smile.
“Yes, of course. You’re right. I’m sorry. We absolutely must celebrate that.”
Seeing the smile on my daughter’s face made me realize it wasn’t just Jake who was going to get hurt when our time was done.
Man, I’d fucked this up.
Chapter Seventy
Gabe
Since Gretchen and Jake were spending the night at Gretchen’s parents, Brittany decided to go to a slumber party at her girlfriend’s house. Brayden’s tournament was out of town, so that left me home alone in the big, quiet house with just my thoughts. Normally, I relished my time alone, but now, that was the last thing I wanted.
My mind had been racing since Gretchen pointed out how upset our kids were going to be when we stopped seeing each other.
The kids, yeah.
BecauseIwas totally equipped to handle it.
I wasn’t crawling out of my skin because I missed them, and they’d only been gone a few hours.
