AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Twain takes the hint and leaves me alone. But I know if I don’t show my face on the deck again, Harper will crutch her way out to the porch, and she won’t take a hint and leave me alone.
When I go back to the deck, everything’s as it should be. Keith is still manning the grill—currently, Ethan is helping him. Twain and Dad are out in the yard with Ryle and Bryson. I watch Twain lob a whiffle ball at Ryle. A little thrill of pride tingles in me when Ryle whops it back at him.
Harper is finally sitting down, but she’s at the table with Mabry, Mom, and Jules. Julie’s hand is wrapped around a longneck, and she wears a sweet smile. She’s looking Mom’s way, but the second she turns her head and meets my eyes, the smile freezes. As much as I want to go to her and talk, I know better. I’d only say something else stupid. And as much as it hurts to see her hanging out with my family when she and I can’t get it right, I don’t want to chase her away.
Instead of joining them, I head out to the yard to play ball with the boys. Twain gives me a look, but he keeps his mouth shut. Ryle high fives me, and then Bryson’s up to bat. Ethan runs out to join us, and then Craig and Hattie appear out of nowhere, and we have a ball game.
The carefree play with the kids is what I needed. I forget that Jules is here, and that I once told her I didn’t want to have children this young. I forget that she cut me off and that I still love her, and I have fun with my family. The game gets hardcore, so by the time Keith announces that the burgers are done, I’m glad for the break. I linger at the base of the deck while the ladies and then the kids fix their plates, and then finally, I grab a burger and some sides. I’m not hungry, but I know Harper’s watching my every move right now, and she’s cataloging everything to grill me on later.
Julie sits at the patio table again with Mom, Mabry, and Harper. So I hang out on the opposite end of the deck with Twain, Keith, and Dad. I don’t know if anyone else feels it, but I can hardly breathe, the tension between me and Jules is so thick.
She stays long enough to have cake, and she gives Mom a present. It’s a pale yellow scarf, and I hear her say Ryle picked it out. Mom raves over it, but she’s sincere, and I know she likes the scarf, and she loves that Ryle chose it for her. The second the gifts are all open, Julie says her goodbyes and stands to leave.
I don’t want her to leave yet, but considering the fact that we’ve avoided each other most of the evening, it would be weird to protest her leaving now. Instead, I cut her off at the deck steps, assuming she’s going to collect Ryle and go home.
“Don’t.” I keep plenty of space between us. Not because my family might be watching now, but because I don’t trust myself. I still want to kiss her. Maybe even more so after the little squabble on the porch—the first we’ve had since we broke up. Since watching her interact with my family. Hearing her laughter from across the deck.
“Don’t what?” she asks quietly.
“Let him stay. I’ll bring him home later.”
She stares at me long enough that I think she might argue. The part of me that wants her to argue is disappointed when she finally nods and takes a step back from me. If she argued, we could stand here toe-to-toe longer—so close I smell her soft, sweet scent. Same thing she’s always worn. I have to shove down the memories of curling up with her on the sofa to watch movies, burying my face in her hair.
“Just gonna tell him goodbye,” she mumbles as she walks away from me.
I watch from where I’m standing as Julie lifts her fist to Ryle for a knuckle tap. My son’s giggle carries over the yard. I wonder what he thinks of Eric’s cousin hanging around them all of the sudden. He’s young, but he’s a smart kid, and he notices things. Not to mention, kids in general aren’t left to be kids for long these days.
What do I know? Maybe he likes Jerad.
“Why did you ask Harper to watch him?” I fall into step beside Julie when she approaches me. We walk around the side of the house rather than up to the deck and through the house.
Julie shoots me a look as we round the house, and I stay with her as she walks to her car.
“I don’t want to do this with you, Truman.” She folds her arms over her chest when we stand at her car. “Not here.”
“I’m just saying I’m right here. And I’m his dad.”
“And sometimes you travel,” she reminds me.
“Not as much lately.”
She nods. “I know. But still.” She shrugs. “Besides, Harper offered. We thought the boys would have fun together.”
Of course the boys will have fun together. But that’s not the point. She could have asked me to keep our son while she’s gone.
“When are you going?”
“It’s not even set in stone, Truman,” she says quietly. “We’re talking about it. Looking at dates.”
“I thought you weren’t into Jerad.” I’m pressing my luck jumping subjects. I have the right to ask her about Ryle, to ask her why she didn’t ask me if he could stay with me when she’s gone. I don’t have the right to ask her about Jerad or anyone else she might date.
She stares at me silently and finally shakes her head.
“I’ll see you later.” She glances at me as she pulls her car door open. Once again, I’m left standing and watching her drive away.
I take my time going back inside. The one nice thing about traveling so much is that I don’t have time to think about Julie. And it’s not just because I meet and date other women. The meetings, the walk-throughs on the potential purchases, the discussions about remodels—everything I do keeps my mind busy and focused.
But being too busy to think about Julie means I’m too busy to be with Ryle.
