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Tonight was a school expo of sorts, including a swimming match to let the older students show off, and draw in new families. Alana had been talking non-stop for weeks about competing. Tanner never treated her differently than the other swimmers in class, not giving her leniency or making things harder on her.
She ate up the fairness of it all. If she was going to win, it would be because she earned it. And she was going to win—she said so on a regular basis.
Both girls had come early with Colin and Tanner, to finish set-up. I’d tried to talk them out of it, but all of them insisted it would be fine.
Inside, I found Carly with Brooke, who we’d become good friends with over the past few months. They were walking from the gym toward the pool, both of them with small plates heaped with brownies and cookies.
“I don’t think you’re supposed to bring those into the pool area,” I said, falling into step with them.
Carly shoved a brownie at me, and picked a cookie from her stack. “I guess we’d better eat them before we get there, then.” She shoved the entire thing in her mouth.
Brooke snorted and shook her head. “Match starts in just a few minutes.”
“Dmnit,” Carly mumbled through cookie crumbs. She wrapped the rest of her plate in a napkin, and set it gently on the top of her purse.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “If you had kids, that wouldn’t be safe in there for even ten seconds.” I ate the brownie quickly, though not as fast as she’d managed with her sweet.
Carly swallowed. “Reason number seven-thousand-ninety-two why I don’t.” She hugged her purse to her chest. “No one better step on this.”
We stepped into the pool area, where people were already gathering on the bleachers. I saw Alana with Tanner and her team, at the far end of the pool, and waved. When we were settled, I sent Colin a text.We’re here.
Be there soon, his reply came through seconds later.
Carly, Brooke, and I settled into a spot big enough for us plus two more, and Carly nudged me. She jerked her head toward the door.
Joe was here. I expected to feel a surge of emotion. Instead a little pity and disdain flitted in, but not much more.
“Is it true?” Carly asked.
I studied my ex-husband from across the room. His face was drawn, and the bags under his eyes were visible from here. He was dressed in jeans, which I think I’d seen maybe twice since we got married. The threat I’d made months ago, to ruin his career… He hadn’t needed my help. “Is what true?” I asked innocently.
Carly raised her eyebrows. “You know what.”
“I don’t gossip.” Which was why I knew this and she didn’t. It had been killing me to keep this to myself, but I almost felt bad that there was a hint of smugness when I thought about it. Almost.
“You’re fucking kidding me right now,” Carly said.
I sighed. “It’s true. He was caught screwing the boss’s daughter.” Adult daughter. Barely. She was twenty-two, and I hoped for her sake that she’d learned and moved on to someone better. “It’s my understanding that he can’t get anyone to take his calls.”
Brooke sucked in a breath. “Ouch.”
“I mean… No one made him put his dick in her, so—”
“Daddy,” Harmony’s shout cut me off, and I immediately homed in on my girl, in the hallway and speed-walking toward the doorway.
Joe’s face lit up and he turned toward the sound.
Harmony cut in a completely different direction, toward Colin, and handed him a large sheet of paper I assumed was her latest artwork. Colin smiled and crouched to bring himself to her eye-level. She was too far away for me to hear anything softer than a yell, but the way she waved her arms and her animated expressions led me to believe she was telling him the story behind the picture.
“He really is cute with her,” Carly said.
I couldn’t agree more. Colin and Tanner were both good with the girls. I loved that they helped around the house, but more I loved that they were there, and part of the family. I could tell they meant it. That they loved me. Loved the kids. Loved each other. I never would’ve imagined something like this was possible even with one guy, especially after Joe, but I wouldn’t trade what I had with these men.
Harmony grabbed Colin’s hand and tugged him toward us. She paused long enough to wave at Joe, then climbed up the bleachers to sit between Colin and me. “Mommy, it’s us in Italy.” She handed me her drawing.
We hadn’t been yet, but as soon as Harmony overheard me talking to Carly about maybe making the trip, she’d started with the plans. I took the picture from her, and sure enough, all five of us were standing in a row, in front of… I pointed to the large, tower-like thing in the background. “Tell me about this,” I said.
“That’s the Eiffel tower.” Harmony said. “And the Ferris wheel. And the opera house.” She pointed at the different images.
