A pit in my stomach sinks because it’s natural for the thought to cross my mind. “Elodie thinks I’m holding it over her head to strong-arm her. That’s the scary part. I’m not sure she believes that or was just caught in the moment. I don’t have a reason to need them, we could be solid co-parents.” The thought causes me to take a long sip of my drink. “But it’s not going to fucking happen. We’re only going one way.” My words come out sharp.“Me and her together. This isn’t about Lola, it’s about us. If we had actually exchanged our real names on that island, then we would still be together. I think Lola is the easiest part of this all. We both want the best for her.”
Foster winces. “Even if being better means not staying together or slowing things down?” He’s pressing me hard tonight.
One look at Julian, and he shrugs at me that our friend might have a point.
“Like I said, Elodie and I are endgame,” I reiterate to the room.
“Geez, you are as stubborn as a fucking mule. We’re just trying to get you to see all angles because we’re not too convinced that you do,” Foster defends.
“I briefly did, and I’m sure only one direction is needed.” My voice rises an octave from the frustration of this conversation. I calm down for a second, but the annoyance still runs strong. “One day you will be in my fucking shoes, Foster. Minus the secret-kid part, but even so, you’ll consider yourself lucky.”
He grows silent, and Julian awkwardly moves his mouth as he stares down into his glass. It’s a stiff silence until he plasters on a bright smile. “I believe we are supposed to watch a hockey game. They’re on the road, otherwise we would have had box seats.”
I rub my eyes, wanting with everything inside of me to push the last day to the side.
For now, all I can do is pretend to watch a game.
Lockingmy car with one click of the button, I wait as Foster gets out of his own car, which he parked next to me on this chilly morning. We’ll be going our separate ways after this. It’s cloudy out, cold but tolerable, and the parking lot next to Main Street only has a few spots left.
“I’ll show you around, but as soon as I see her, I’m abandoning you,” I remind him.
He grins as he closes his car door. “I’m very aware.” Then he clicks his key fob as we both walk away from our cars.
“You’re very confident that Elodie is around here. Couldn’t you just text her?”
“I’m supposed to be giving her space, but that doesn’t mean an accidental run-in can’t happen. Plus, I’m ready to ask to talk, and if Lola is at her grandparents' and Elodie isn’t in a great mood, then there is a strong chance that she’s at the coffee shop, Foxy Rox.”
The moment we walk onto Main Street, we see an older couple slowly walking into the post office that has a giant wreath on the door. He has a cane, and she’s holding his arm steady, and they both smile as they greet a woman holding the door open for them.
Foster nudges my arm. “That could be you with Elodie one day.”
“I should be so lucky.”
He continues to survey the town curiously. “Point me in the direction of a boutique shop or something. It’s my neighbor’s birthday, the big seven zero. She lives a few floors down but always leaves me a tin of baked cookies at reception. Not quite sure why, but I like cookies.”
“There are a few places, I guess.”
I’m not moving slowly as I focus on the sidewalk, asI still have two blocks until Foxy Rox, but I stop when I feel Foster touch my arm to stop me. “We know her, no?”
I look up and see Sutton, who recently started at the office, slow her approach, and we do the same. I joined her and Elodie for a coffee the other week, and my impression was she has a laidback calm approach to life.
“Hey, Hayes,” she preambles with sympathy.
“Hi, Sutton,” I greet her, scratching my cheek. “You know Foster by now, I guess.”
They catch one another’s gaze, and I notice the way he displays his best suave grin, and her wry smile seems to challenge his cocky approach.
“I believe we’ve seen one another in the elevator, wasn't it?”She tilts her head slightly to the side.
“The newbie in legal, right?”
I roll my eyes and cross my arms, not patient enough to watch whatever is unfolding. I don't try to be a good friend or keep this meeting pleasant.
“I’m going to assume I’m going to find Elodie where I think I will?”I check withSutton.
Her attention drifts back to me, and she sinks into the real situation. “I may be pleading the fifth on this.”
My facial expression might show how unimpressed I am with her approach.
