Page 72 of The Broken Hearts Club

Maybe then, he’d come back to me.

I couldn’t let myself think about how long that might be, how many years might pass before we could truly be together. If I did, I might fall apart, and that was the last thing that needed to happen right now.

Sometime later, Jeannie came in through the kitchen door. She was carrying a detachable car seat, which contained the most adorable sleeping baby. Collie ran to her and grabbed her in a hug, and both of them instantly burst into tears.

Dwight was right behind her, carrying a huge bouquet of pink flowers and a tote bag. He and I introduced ourselves and shook hands, and I told him, “You’re the MVP of this whole thing. Way to step in and help out.”

“Oh, believe me, Jeannie is the MVP,” he said. “I was there for the delivery, and let me tell you, I feel like I owe my mom an apology after what I witnessed.”

Once Jeannie and Collie finally let go of each other, she grabbed me in a hug and exclaimed, “You feel like an old friend, Miller, after all that Collie’s told me about you.”

“So do you.”

“Thank you so much for everything you did for my bestie, including marrying him for the insurance, and taking him in, and driving him here. I’m beyond grateful.”

I murmured, “It was my pleasure.”

“Sorry for sweating all over you,” she said, as she let go of me. “I need to go take a quick shower.”

“Take your time. If the baby wakes up, I’ve got her,” Collie said. “And if you’re hungry, we made mac and cheese for dinner, and there are cupcakes in the oven.”

“I’m starving, and that sounds amazing,” Jeannie said. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

Dwight started to say, “I should get out of your way, but⁠—”

“Absolutely not. You’re staying for dinner.” She gave his shoulder an affectionate squeeze before leaving the kitchen.

The baby started to wake up just as we finished eating. Dwight put his dishes in the sink and told Jeannie, “I’ll leave you to it, but I’ll call you tomorrow.” After we said our goodbyes, Jeannie picked up the baby and walked her new friend to the door.

As soon as they were out of earshot, I said, “Wouldn’t it be great if those two ended up together? I mean, I know Jeannie isn’t going to be up for dating any time soon, but they make a great couple.”

Collie grinned at me. “You’re such a romantic.”

“Am I?”

“Definitely. Don’t you know that about yourself?”

I’d thought all my hope and optimism had been drained out of me by my last relationship. Maybe I was wrong.

After we cleaned up and started the dishwasher, Collie and I joined Jeannie in the living room. She’d just finished feeding the baby, who was sound asleep in her arms. “Thanks for getting rid of my wedding picture,” Jeannie said. “That was going to be the first thing I did when I got home.”

Collie said, “I figured,” as he sat down right beside her and put his arm around her shoulders.

She hadn’t mentioned Brad all through dinner, but now she said, “He’s moving to Seattle with his girlfriend. He was planning to break up with me right after the baby was born, so they went there this weekend to look for apartments.”

Collie growled, “He’s trash, and you’re better off without him.”

A tear tumbled down her cheek. “It’s one thing to cheat on me, but he’s moving almost seven hours away from his kids. I don’t even know what to tell them, but I’ll need to think of something soon. They’ll have questions when my mother-in-law brings them home and he’s not here.”

She started sobbing—quietly, so she wouldn’t wake the baby—and Collie held her securely. I felt so bad for her.

After a while, Collie glanced at me and whispered, “It’s good we brought the cat. Now we just need junk food, a fuzzy blanket, and a third T-shirt.”

I had no idea what he meant at first, but then I got it. Our little broken hearts club had gained a new member.

17

Miller