friends’ daughters just because they’re single.”
She pursed her lips. “Well, maybe you should at least give one of my suggestions a try.”
So she had someone in mind. I wasn’t surprised. My mom was great overall, but sometimes she tried too hard to get things happening her way—the best way, in her not so humble opinion.
“I’m going to get some popcorn for Eric, and then I’m watching Jordan’s game,” I said.
“Sure, we can talk about this later.”
“Or not,” I said firmly. “Because I think the conversation is over.”
Her quick nod told me it wasn’t over as far as she was concerned. I had to give her a little slack because she’d struggled while watching the Kim disaster unfold. Kim’s drinking had escalated, and I’d buried my head in the sand over it for a few months. I deeply regretted that now. I sometimes wondered what would have happened if Kim hadn’t left me. Would I still be with her?
I’d never considered leaving her. Marriage was a lifelong commitment to me. But the boys and I were definitely in a better place with her gone.
I wasn’t about to upset that balance by getting into a serious relationship. I’d spend time with Meredith, but I wasn’t looking for more than that. It was probably best to be up front with her about that.
Hopefully, she wouldn’t be offended. I rubbed my forehead, considering the best way to tell her as I walked to the ballpark concession stand.
Dealing with women was not my strong suit. They were the opposite of my work, which was all about precision and order. I just hoped I wouldn’t run Meredith off before I’d even gotten a chance with her.
The next evening, I’d dropped the boys off at my parents’ place, expertly ducking out before my mom could ask me why I wasn’t staying for dinner, and I was getting things ready for Meredith’s arrival.
I had steaks marinating and sweet potatoes wrapped in foil, both ready for the grill. I wore basketball shorts and a T-shirt because it was in the high eighties outside. Despite the shorts, I was still sweating. Had to be nerves. I was so fucking out of practice with this kind of thing.
I was halfway through a Corona when she knocked on the door. When I opened it, she smiled, and I could see she was nervous, too.
“Hey,” I said, stepping aside so she could come in.
“Hi. I brought red.” She pulled a bottle of wine from the large bag on her shoulder. “Is that okay?”
“It’s great.”
I finally felt like I could look her over slowly, savoring every inch of her, knowing I wouldn’t get busted by my sons. She wore a black strapless dress that showed off her legs, her turquoise swimsuit strings tied around her neck. Her dark hair was pulled up in a bun, showcasing the creamy, perfect skin on her neck.
“You look nice,” I said.
Her smile was the wide, pretty one I fantasized about. “You’re sweet. It’s a swimsuit cover-up.”
“Ah.” I grinned sheepishly. “I don’t know about these things. Looks like a dress to me.”
She followed me into the kitchen, where she set her bag down on the floor.
“I turned the hot tub on, in case you’re up for that later,” I said, moving our steaks from the container I’d marinated them in onto a plate.
“I’d love that. I haven’t been in a hot tub in years.” She set the wine on the counter. “How can I help with dinner?”
“I’m just gonna grill it. I’ll pour some wine, and we can sit outside while it cooks if you want. Or I have Corona with limes if you want that.”
“Fancy,” she teased. “I’d love one.”
I opened a bottle of beer for her and stuck a slice of lime inside. “I can’t drink a Corona without a lime in it. Not that I drink much.”
“Not your thing?”
I shrugged. “I used to have a beer with dinner now and then, especially after a long day. But the boys don’t like having alcohol in the house after Kim. They worry I’ll become an alcoholic, too. So I never drink around
She pursed her lips. “Well, maybe you should at least give one of my suggestions a try.”
So she had someone in mind. I wasn’t surprised. My mom was great overall, but sometimes she tried too hard to get things happening her way—the best way, in her not so humble opinion.
“I’m going to get some popcorn for Eric, and then I’m watching Jordan’s game,” I said.
“Sure, we can talk about this later.”
“Or not,” I said firmly. “Because I think the conversation is over.”
Her quick nod told me it wasn’t over as far as she was concerned. I had to give her a little slack because she’d struggled while watching the Kim disaster unfold. Kim’s drinking had escalated, and I’d buried my head in the sand over it for a few months. I deeply regretted that now. I sometimes wondered what would have happened if Kim hadn’t left me. Would I still be with her?
I’d never considered leaving her. Marriage was a lifelong commitment to me. But the boys and I were definitely in a better place with her gone.
I wasn’t about to upset that balance by getting into a serious relationship. I’d spend time with Meredith, but I wasn’t looking for more than that. It was probably best to be up front with her about that.
Hopefully, she wouldn’t be offended. I rubbed my forehead, considering the best way to tell her as I walked to the ballpark concession stand.
Dealing with women was not my strong suit. They were the opposite of my work, which was all about precision and order. I just hoped I wouldn’t run Meredith off before I’d even gotten a chance with her.
The next evening, I’d dropped the boys off at my parents’ place, expertly ducking out before my mom could ask me why I wasn’t staying for dinner, and I was getting things ready for Meredith’s arrival.
I had steaks marinating and sweet potatoes wrapped in foil, both ready for the grill. I wore basketball shorts and a T-shirt because it was in the high eighties outside. Despite the shorts, I was still sweating. Had to be nerves. I was so fucking out of practice with this kind of thing.
I was halfway through a Corona when she knocked on the door. When I opened it, she smiled, and I could see she was nervous, too.
“Hey,” I said, stepping aside so she could come in.
“Hi. I brought red.” She pulled a bottle of wine from the large bag on her shoulder. “Is that okay?”
“It’s great.”
I finally felt like I could look her over slowly, savoring every inch of her, knowing I wouldn’t get busted by my sons. She wore a black strapless dress that showed off her legs, her turquoise swimsuit strings tied around her neck. Her dark hair was pulled up in a bun, showcasing the creamy, perfect skin on her neck.
“You look nice,” I said.
Her smile was the wide, pretty one I fantasized about. “You’re sweet. It’s a swimsuit cover-up.”
“Ah.” I grinned sheepishly. “I don’t know about these things. Looks like a dress to me.”
She followed me into the kitchen, where she set her bag down on the floor.
“I turned the hot tub on, in case you’re up for that later,” I said, moving our steaks from the container I’d marinated them in onto a plate.
“I’d love that. I haven’t been in a hot tub in years.” She set the wine on the counter. “How can I help with dinner?”
“I’m just gonna grill it. I’ll pour some wine, and we can sit outside while it cooks if you want. Or I have Corona with limes if you want that.”
“Fancy,” she teased. “I’d love one.”
I opened a bottle of beer for her and stuck a slice of lime inside. “I can’t drink a Corona without a lime in it. Not that I drink much.”
“Not your thing?”
I shrugged. “I used to have a beer with dinner now and then, especially after a long day. But the boys don’t like having alcohol in the house after Kim. They worry I’ll become an alcoholic, too. So I never drink around
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