Page 35 of Alec’s Dream

I snatched it off my nightstand and smiled—Becky, messaging to tell me the lights were out and my kids were tucked away at Doug’s. I hated that they were there, I knew they were not safe, and I had no control to stop my ex’s vitriol.

I sent back a thank you text, hit send, then because I had to share with someone, I sent a second message.

Me: I think I have a date with Alec Hall tomorrow.

Becky’s response was immediate: You think?

Me: Dinner at his house.

Becky: Get it girl!

Me: Do you think I’m crazy?

Becky knew Alec, well, she didn’t know him well, but she was friends with McKenna Swagger, therefore she’d been invited to get-togethers at both the Swagger farm and McKenna and Nixon’s house. She and Rob had even gone to McKenna’s wedding.

Becky: Uh, yeah. I mean you’ve been divorced three years, not one date. Not one, even though I keep telling you to jump back on the bike. But no, you don’t listen.

The message broke and I waited for more. Once my friend was on a tirade I could get ten text messages back to back.

Becky: Now you have a date with Alec Hall. Girl, you skipped the training wheels. The man is hot.

She was not wrong. Alec was hot, and so far out of my league, I was probably misreading the whole thing.

Becky: Clean up on aisle five—hot.

I choked out a laugh at all the fire, smoke, and devil emojis she added.

Me: He said dinner as friends. I’m probably wrong. He would never be interested in me.

Becky: You’re lucky you’re three miles from me or I’d punch you in your cooter for saying something so dumb. Look in the mirror, Macy.

Me: Cooter?

I added my own smiley emojis and shook my head at her antics.

Becky: Vagina, who-ha, honeypot, whatever you wanna call it, I’d punch you in it.

God, she was funny.

Me: Goodnight, thanks for the update.

Becky: I’m calling you first thing.

Me: Didn’t think you wouldn’t be.

After one last text from my friend complete with kissy faces and more fire emojis, I tossed my phone aside and rolled to my side.

It was just dinner with a friend and Jocelyn would be there.

Nothing could go wrong.

12

Alec Hall stood leaning against his kitchen counter and watched Jocelyn bang a toy against her new plastic house. The thing was gigantic and pink with purple accents. Never in his life had he thought he’d be standing where he was, yet he couldn’t remember what it was like not to have his daughter in his life.

Nine months ago his life had been flipped upside down, and if he was being truthful, he’d thought the curveball had been cruel. A child made by accident with a woman he didn’t know other than the sounds she made when he got her off.

Then lies and secrets followed.