AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I thought maybe we could grab a drink or something.” She noticeably leans into me, sending very non-business vibes.
Moira stiffens and I realize this is the perfect opportunity to show Moira that there are real women out there who don’t eschew my attentions.
I grin down at Bridgette and croon, “I’d love that. I’m heading back to Alaska in a couple of days though, so how about I call you when I get back to town?”
Bridgette places her hand on my chest, then kisses my cheek with great care. “I can’t wait,” she says in a breathy tone.
“It’s a date,” I tell her while staring at Moira.
I know I’m being a jackass, but I don’t care. I’m hurt and angry. Besides, maybe this will make Moira think that I can be happy without her. Even though I don’t know if that will ever be possible.
* * *
The rest of the game is as tense as a rubber band right before its breaking point. Moira is frigidly cold every time we interact with each other, while I’m busy pretending everything is fine.
During the seventh-inning stretch, the Sluggers are taken out on the field to lead the crowd through “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” Then, after the game ends, they get to go to the dugout to meet the players, who take them onto the field with them to run around.
Now that the crowd is gone, Moira, the twins, and I walk down the steps and stand in the front row. Ash and Colton watch longingly as their brother has the time of his life.
“You okay, buddy?” I ask Colton.
He shrugs. “I kind of wish I was out there, too.”
“Me, too,” I tell him with a sad smile.
Wyatt must have some type of amazing big brother radar because when I look back at him, he’s talking to one of the coaches for the Dodgers while pointing in our direction. The man nods, then Wyatt rushes over to us, shouting, “Ash! Colt! Come on!”
They immediately leap over the short wall that separates us from the field and take off like a couple of greyhounds, leaving Moira and me alone in an awkward silence.
After a couple of minutes, I can’t take it anymore, so I say, “This will be a memory they’ll never forget.”
“They won’t be the only ones,” Moira says snippily, digging around in her purse. She pulls out her phone and starts videoing, effectively putting an end to our conversation.
I wish I knew how to fix whatever has happened between us. But Moira has made up her mind and I’ve learned that when a woman makes up her mind, there’s no point in trying to change it. Paige taught me that.
The only move I have left is to accept reality.
Chapter39
Moira
I’m so mad I could spit nails, and I’d direct every one of them at Ethan. He clearly has something going on with that supermodel or he wouldn’t have been so touchy feely with her. Thank goodness I found out about his true character before making the giant-ass mistake of thinking I might really become his wife someday.
By the time Wyatt’s team is saying goodbye to the Dodgers, there are very few cars left in the parking lot. What could have been an excruciating hour of getting out of Dodge, literally, is now pretty effortless.
The boys are talking a mile a minute with such intensity that Ethan has to yell to be heard over the fracas. “Where should we go for dinner? We can get great Chinese in Pasadena or head back to Beverly Hills and find something there.”
“Is Pasadena closer to Beverly Hills or farther away?” I want to know.
“Farther away.”
“Then my vote is Beverly Hills.” I don’t even turn my gaze in his direction. I don’t want to be stuck in this car for one more minute than I have to.
He looks in the rear-view mirror at my boys and asks, “What are you kids in the mood for? Burgers? Pizza? Sushi?”
Great call, Einstein, kids are always in the mood for sushi.But I don’t say anything.Let Ethan figure it out for himself.
Wyatt asks, “Can we go for steak? A steak would be the perfect end to this day!”
