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“How else am I supposed to have energy this early in the morning? And it’s delicious. Don’t judge me over my hot chocolate, Brent. We’ll have serious problems.” She levels a glare at me, daring me to pick on her some more.
“All right then.” I take her cup and set it down on the table. “Let’s go.”
About five minutes into our run, Jamie decides to make this run different. “So, what happened with your ex-wife?”
I glance over at her. “What is it with you and talks at six in the morning?”
“You started it by making me talk in the first place,” she reminds me. She does have a point there.
“We got married when we found out she was pregnant with Kayla. We were fresh out of high school, but our parents encouraged us. Seemed like a good idea, and I did love her.” I fall silent, thinking back to when we truly liked each other and could talk without an argument inevitably forming at some point. I don’t think I ever craved time with Shannon. That given the chance, I wouldn’t have fought for our marriage. That sounds terrible.
“But?” Jamie asks.
“I don’t want to say we never should’ve gotten married because Gregory probably wouldn’t be here if we hadn’t, but our marriage never should’ve lasted as long as it did. The love and commitment needed for marriage, I don’t think it was ever there for us. And now, Shannon hates me more than she ever liked me because she wasted so much time with me. There’s a lot of resentment from her.”
“You sound like you understand how she feels,” Jamie says, sounding confused.
“I do. I could just as easily feel the same way toward her.”
“But you don’t.”
“No,” I confirm. “I don’t know if I would have the life I do if it wasn’t for Shannon, my marriage to her, and my kids. Yeah, we should’ve ended our relationship way before we did because we weren’t exactly happy and I definitely wasn’t a great husband for her, but she was a good wife and a good mother to my kids. Couldn’t ask for more than that.” Well, I could’ve asked for her honesty sooner, but what’s done is done and it seems to have affected Shannon more than me anyway. She’s not the only one at fault either.
“Would you ever remarry?”
“I’d have to be confident I would be willing to put in the work for myself and the woman in the relationship with me. Otherwise, no. Might as well learn from my mistakes, right?”
> “Most definitely.”
We run in silence until we return to my house, just in time for it to start raining. On today’s breakfast menu is a couple of egg sandwiches. As the first egg fries in the pan, I glance over my shoulder at Jamie, who sits at my table.
“What’s your schedule like this week?” I ask.
“I work every day but Wednesday and Saturday. Why?”
“I’m trying to figure out when I can take you out again.” I carry a fresh egg sandwich over to her before returning to start on mine.
“What are we going to do?” she asks.
That is the big question, isn’t it? It’s almost weird to consistently make free time away from work, but I’m enjoying it so far. What could we do? An idea does come, but it’s almost more for me than it would be for her unless she happens to enjoy it too. Only one way to find out.
“Do you like hockey?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t ever watched. Were you thinking about us going to a game?”
“Only if you’re interested. I watch the Rebels on TV sometimes, but haven’t ever been to a game.”
“Then let’s go.”
With my sandwich now fully prepared, I walk over to the table and sit. “You don’t even know if you’ll like it.”
“How am I supposed to find out if I don’t watch a game? You might as well see a game in person while we’re at it.”
“I don’t know. I’d hate to drag you and it turns out the game bores you.” That would make for a terrible date.
Jamie balls up her paper towel, her sandwich gone, and levels me with a stare. “Either you buy the tickets, or I will, Brent.”
That settles that then. Looks like I’ll have to check out the Rebels schedule for the week. She pops out of her seat and leans down to kiss me.
