Page 36 of Midlife Crisis

“Sure,” she says, keeping her back to me as she continues to type on the keyboard.

“Let me take you out this weekend. We can talk.” Her hands freeze. “I need to explain some things.”

“I can’t. My kids are home now.” There’s more to her rejection. I wish she’d just turn and tell me she hates me. Then I could blame everything on her, instead of taking the fault as I should. I hate myself. “Ronin has the play this weekend—Friday, Saturday, and Sunday—but on Sunday, Liam has a doubleheader, his first ball game of the season, and I’ll be there.”

I nod, knocking a fist on the counter. “I could go with you.” I don’t know where the offer came from. I haven’t even met her kids. She spins in her seat, peeking up at me over the rim of those fucking glasses. Damn, she looks hot. The whole naughty secretary thing going on with the sweater open over her shirt, hinting at luscious breasts that could fill my mouth. Fuck, I fucked this up.

“Why?”

“What?”

“Why would you want to go with me?”

It’s a legitimate question, and my answer is honest. “I want to spend time with you.”

“But you didn’t want to,” she retorts as her eyes drop like her voice. She’s wrong, so wrong, and it’s all my fault.

“That’s not true. I just—"

“Hank, I can’t—” But it’s my turn to cut her off.

“I know. I’m sorry. Just let me come to the play, come to the game.” She pushes the glasses to the top of her head, and I want to lay her back, undress her, and ask her to wear only those glasses, but I’m promising to be good.

“I’m trying to be the bigger person here. These are my kids, Hank. I don’t need you messing with them, too.”

“I understand.” And I do, more than she might think. It’s why I’m promising myself I’ll be good. I just want to know more about her. “No hands. Just time.”

Her brow pinches, her face tilting away from me. She’s thinking.

“Fine. Tommy and Edie are coming to the play on Friday. Ivy plans to attend on Saturday with the kids, and Tommy, Edie, and Ivy are coming to the game which is at noon on Sunday.”

What the…?

“How did they all get invited?” I sound like a jealous boyfriend, and I am jealous. She never asked me, though she might have if I hadn’t been a dick.

“Edie and I spoke last week. I told her about the play. She wanted to see Ronin. She met most of the kids during the fundraiser.” Midge shrugs. “Liam has a crush on Ivy, and he begged me to ask her to his game. To my surprise, she said she’d come see him.”

My heart remembers a time when we did things like this. Tommy and the guys with little Ivy in tow. Kit and Tommy were always about family. Sometimes, I think that was her issue. She saw me as family but not romantically. I sigh, willing away thoughts of history.

“What time is the play on Friday? I can pick you up.”

“I need to be there early. Crew dinner and all. I’m also hosting the after party on Saturday.” She sighs, rubbing her forehead. She adds under her breath, “Why can’t I say no?”

“To me?” I question, my tone falling an octave in concern.

“Just in general. Like the party. Forty teens and me.”

“I’ll come supervise.”

“Hank, don’t—”

“I’ll be there.” I turn on my boot heels and walk away before she can reject me, before she keeps me out of her kids’ life as one woman kept me from my own.

15

Why I say yes

[Midge]