I wanted to laugh, but at the moment, all I felt like doing was crying. Bennett and River joined us, and I watched as Arlo and Bennett sized each other up. River—completely, mercifully oblivious to the tension—said, “Hey! Cool dog. Can I pet her?”
“Absolutely.” Arlo crouched down to River’s level. “This is Fern. She’s really friendly. You just need to—” River held out his fist for Fern to sniff his knuckles. “Yeah. That’s right. Exactly like that.”
“I know.” River beamed, glancing up at Bennett. “B showed me. Did you know that Labrador retrievers can hit speeds of twelve miles per hour in just three seconds?”
“Wow. That’s amazing. I didn’t.” Arlo smiled. “I’m Arlo, by the way.”
“Hi,” River said. “I’m River. Cool accent. Are you from England?”
He chuckled. “Close. Australia.”
All the while, I was alternating between watching Arlo with River and then Bennett. He was standing off to the side, silent, a muscle ticking in his jaw.
“My mom loves British TV shows. Are you friends with my mom?”
“Yeah. We are.” Arlo peered up at me and winked.
“Right.” I clapped my hands together. “Where are my manners? Arlo, this is Bennett. And you’ve already met my son, River. Bennett, this is Arlo.”
Arlo stood and brushed his hands off before offering one to Bennett.
“Wren’s told me a lot about you,” Bennett said as they shook. And then that was it.
Silence.
Awkward.
I furrowed my brow, surprised that neither wasn’t his usual friendly self. Though maybe Bennett felt awkward, given the situation. Considering the fact that he was sleeping with me—coaching me, I reminded myself—while meeting the guy I was dating. I certainly felt uncomfortable, though luckily, Arlo hadn’t seemed to pick up on it.
Bennett crouched down, rubbing Fern’s belly, her tongue wagging. He and River talked in cutesy voices to the dog, and I shook my head with a smile. My boys.
“She likes you,” Arlo said to River, a warm smile playing at his lips.
“Did you know Bennett’s a veterinarian?” River asked.
“Gnarly,” Arlo said. “Maybe I’ll have to pop in. I’ve been going to the one over in St. Cecilia, but that drive knackers me.”
“Knackers?” Bennett asked.
“Wears me out.”
“Oh, right.” Bennett stood and handed Arlo a business card from his wallet. “I’d be happy to help. We’re located just off Mockingbird Lane.”
“Oh, fantastic.” Arlo flipped the card over then slid it into his back pocket. “Thanks, mate.”
When River started laughing, my attention snapped to him. Fern was licking his face, and he fell over backward, giggling.I really should consider getting him a dog.
“We should get going,” I said, eager to escape. This was too much—Bennett, Arlo, River. “We told Grandma we’d stop by the store. Remember?”
“Your mom has a store in town?” Arlo asked.
“Bibliolater,” I said.
“No way.” His jaw dropped. “That store is sick. Deborah’s your mom?”
I nodded, turning to glare at River while he pulled on my arm and tried to interrupt me. “River, just a minute.”
“But, Mom,” River whined, tugging on my arm. “I thought we were going to check out Wildflour Bakery.”
