AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Logan
Campbell tosses his football bag in the back with a bit more force than needed and then climbs into the passenger seat. He slams the door, crossing his arms over his chest. I hate being at odds with him. He might be my son, but we were friends, too. Always able to depend on each other.
“Is this silent treatment going to last as long as your interest in moon sand or as long as your crush on Hannah Montana?” There’s a ghost of a smile, but it quickly disappears. “I know you love your mom, Campbell. And I know you miss her.”
“And you don’t love her anymore? You don’t miss her?”
“I will always love your mom. She gave me you, even though I want to throttle you at times, but we were not happy in our marriage for a long time. It isn’t fair to any of us for me and her to try and force happiness on each other when we know it isn’t going to happen. It’ll only make things worse. You deserve better than that, and honestly, Campbell, so do I.”
“Maybe she’ll be better. Maybe she’ll do better this time.”
His hope breaks my heart. He’s witnessed Jo promise time and again to do better. To get her act together. To stop cheating, stop drinking, and be a better wife and mom. Empty promises.
“I hope she is better for you, but our marriage is officially over. She will always be your mom, and no one is going to change that,” I explain. “But it’s time to accept what I’ve been saying to you.”
“I heard you laughing with Ms. Leigh,” he comments, his gaze focused out the window until he finally looks over at me. “It’s been a while since I heard you do that.”
And just like that, we’re good. He forgets about giving me the silent treatment, and we decide to grab some pie from Mary’s Café. Any disagreement can be settled over pie, right?
I make the turn and find us a parking spot. A few of the other players had the same idea, so I tell Campbell to go sit with them while I treat the team.
Two pies and half a dozen milkshakes later, and I’m loading six sweaty teenage boys onto the back of my truck for a sleepover and trying to figure out how in the hell they talked me into it. At least I don’t get a ticket on my way home. Pretty sure Holden wouldn’t appreciate me calling in a favor.
When we get home, I barely have my ignition turned off before they’re unloading and discussing ordering pizza and who has the top score on Fortnite. They’re so caught up in their conversation, they don’t even notice Sailor sitting on my porch. I definitely notice her. As far as I’m concerned, the boys can have my credit card and order all the pizza they want.
“What have you gotten yourself into?” Sailor asks, eyebrow arched.
“Not sure, but I’m fairly certain my house is going to smell like sweaty socks and popcorn before the night is over.”
She giggles, and I approach her, leaning down to press a kiss to her lips before I take a seat beside her. “It looks like Campbell is speaking to you again.”
“He recognizes I have a good thing going here, and he knows how easily I can screw it up. Doesn’t want to hurt my chances.”
“That’s actually why I came over here.”
I knew something was wrong when I walked over here. I could hear the melancholy in her tone. Notice how her laughter didn’t quite reach her eyes. How she didn’t return my kiss.
“If it’s about the burnt bacon, I promise I’ll eat it no matter how crispy it is, and Campbell will, too.”
She bites back a smile. “It’s not about the bacon,” she replies. “Because we both know that was your fault.”
“Fine. I’ll take the blame.”
“Have you been completely honest with me? About everything?”
I frown at her, reaching for her hand, but she conveniently crosses them over her chest. I sit there in silence for a moment, unsure if I should give her some sort of answer, denying that I’ve been dishonest, or wait for her to divulge what she’s accusing me of being dishonest about. Finally, I decide waiting for her to give me a fucking clue is a waste of time.
“I’m not injured.”
