The air between us grows thick. I’m sure he’s just being his usual sweet self, but the way those simple words tie my stomach in knots. It feels as if a heartbeat is throbbing between us. I feel so stupid thinking this. I’m so desperate for companionship, I’m actually willing to believe my friend is interested in me.
Looking down, I shake the wayward feelings away before looking back up at him.
“I...um....invited Jacob for lasagna. I hope you don’t mind.”
Mitch glances to the left, widening his legs, he turns back to me. “No. I don’t mind. Val cut her two weeks short, so I haven’t had time to go grocery shopping yet.”
I try to offer Mitch the same respect he gives me by not meddling in his relationship with his ex-wife, but sometimes I forget that rule. Like right now.
Folding my arms over my chest, I ask. “Again?”
Mitch runs a hand from his mouth to his chin. “Yeah.”
“How is Jacob taking this? It feels like he has less and less time with her.”
“He’s behaving as if he’s unbothered, but you know Jacob. He’s an easygoing kid.”
Jacob was definitely easygoing. It’s no wonder he and Cam are best friends. They both have the same temperament. However,Cam was devastated when Andrew and I got divorced. Jacob took the separation between Mitch and Val pretty well.
“Let’s hope he remains that way. But in the meantime, I’ll try to spend a little extra time with him. See if he says anything to me.”
Mitch’s face lights up with a beautiful smile. He reaches out his hand and grabs mine bringing it between us.
“Thank you, El. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
I wave his remark away with my free hand. “You’d be just fine. You’re an incredible father, Mitchell.”
He dips his chin at me. I wait for him to release my hand, but he didn’t. Instead, he leads me into my house. His rough large hands swallowing mine. I don’t make a fuss. I allow him to lead me inside. Even that slight gesture warms my body.
Problems
Chapter Seven
Ella
“Go in and sit down,” I huff out to my oldest son.
He storms up the steps past me and into the house. Andrew climbs out of his car and storms up to me.
“This is bullshit,” he fumes.
Today, we got a call from AJ’s school. Apparently, my usual honor roll student got into a fight at school. One he started.
Andrew storms into the house, and I shut the door behind him.
“What were you thinking, AJ?” Andrew demands the moment he walked into the living room.
I place my purse down on the sofa table.
“I told you, he pissed me off.”
“Oh, he pissed you off, so you punched him in the face?” Andrew paces in front of our son. “Do you know how stupid you sound? Are you a fucking female that reacts with her emotions?”
I swing my head in my ex’s direction.
“Okay, let’s calm down.”
“Calm down?” Andrew says to me with so much vitriol, you’d think I was the one who got suspended for fighting.
