The rap on the front door startles me. Jesse and I shared a lazy morning together, and he only left to pick up lunch ten minutes ago. I’m not sure why he would knock.
“It’s still open, you goof,” I call out from the sofa.
The front door creaks open and I hear a familiar giggle followed by two shrieking voices.
“Mommy!”
I leap up from the sofa and stumble toward the front door. It couldn’t be. They weren’t supposed to be back for three more days. Yet here they are, freshly tanned and racing toward me.
“Mommy!”
My eyes swell with hot, unexpected tears as I squat down and scoop them both into my arms. I press my nose into their hair, inhaling their sweet scent.
“My babies.” My severed insides fuse together, newly repaired, as I hold them tight. I’m so happy about being reunited that I temporarily forget to wonder why they’re back early to begin with. That is, until I hear the low rumble of someone clearing their throat.
Straightening, I see Rocky standing in the foyer, hands jammed into the pockets of his signature black skinny jeans. The sun has turned his skin an even darker shade of caramel, making it popagainst his tight white T-shirt, and I’m momentarily reminded of what I saw in him all those years ago.
“Hey, Rissa,” he says, calling me by the nickname I’ve never warmed to. His eyes drop from my face to sweep appreciatively over the length of my body, drinking in the lace chemise I’d completely forgotten I was wearing. It makes me feel gross. I cross my arms over my chest, covering the most revealing parts of my ensemble, and the corners of his mouth curl in amusement. Rocky’s personality never fails to cancel out his good looks.
“What are you doing here?” I ask. His smirk fades a decimal and his dark brows lower.
“Good to see you too,” he says. He reluctantly drags his eyes back to my face. “We decided to come back early and surprise you. I thought you’d be happy to see us.”
My insides clench. How does he always turn everything around to make it my fault? My ex-husband is a master manipulator. But I’m no longer interested in playing his games.
I give the kids a squeeze and plaster on my best smile. “Of course I’m happy. What an unbelievable surprise.”
The front door opens behind him and Jesse steps inside. He’s carrying a brown takeout bag and freezes when he sees my family in the foyer. Rocky looks back and forth between us, amusement creeping into his features as he puts the pieces together. “Well, well. I guess this day is just full of surprises.”
Jesse’s eyes are wide, and I give him a tiny shake of my head, which I hope communicates that I’m just as caught off guard by this turn of events as he is.
“Rocky, you remember Jesse. My… carpenter.”Shit, am I really doing this again?Jesse’s mouth tightens into a hard line, while Rocky’s smirk grows. I wish I could tell him that I’m doing it to protect him, that the best way to keep him out of Rocky’s crosshairs is to minimize his importance to me. But based on the look on Jesse’s face, I’m worried I’ve done more harm than good.
“Oh, I remember,” Rocky says. “It seems your services are invaluable around here. You must be great with your hands.”
Jesse’s jaw twitches but before he can say anything else, my kids dash over to hug him.
“Jesse!” They wrap their arms around his legs, and his expression softens. He reaches down to ruffle their hair.
“Hey guys. How was your trip?” he asks softly.
“It was the best!” Isla exclaims. Then she turns back to look at me, and I can see her recalibrating.
“But we missed you, Mommy. I wish you had come with us.”
Rocky nods in agreement. “She’s right. It would have been better with you, Rissa.”
My fingers curl into a tight ball at the second use of that nickname.
Rocky redirects his attention to Jesse, studying him with fresh eyes. He’s probably wondering why our children seem so attached to our handyman. His gaze drops to Jesse’s fist, which is still awkwardly clutching the bag of sandwiches, and I notice his knuckles are white. “I hope I’m not interrupting your lunch plans.”
Jesse’s words are flat. “Not at all. I was just about to leave.”
“Jesse, please. You don’t have to go.”
“No, I have some paperwork to get to. Enjoy your family time. I know you need it.” His tone is softer now, but he’s refusing to meet my eye. He presses the takeout bag into Rocky’s hands.
“The team will be out tomorrow,” he mutters. Then he steps through the front door, pulling it shut behind him.
