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“How are you doing?” she asks after a few moments of silence.
“I’m good.”
She side-eyes me. “Let’s try again, and this time, you be honest.”
I sigh, hating that she knows me so well and wishing I could hide my emotions better. “I met someone.” I clear my throat. “Actually, I met two people.”
Her brows kiss her forehead in surprise. “Well, damn, when you commit to something, you really go all out, huh?” She waggles her brows. “So why are you so down?” Her eyes widen, and she leans in. “Was the sex bad?”
“No!” I splutter.
“So it was good?”
“No.” I shake my head. “We haven’t had sex.”
“Okay. So, what’s wrong?”
“The two guys I met… I’ve fallen for them both.”
“Oh, is that why you’ve been distant? Are you struggling with who to date?”
“No.” I down my wine in one gulp, needing the liquid courage to say what I need to say next. “I actually don’t have to choose. I’m dating them both…and they know. It was their idea.”
I hold my breath, waiting for the judgment to come, but instead, a huge smile spreads across her face, and she says, “This sounds like a romance novel I read recently. Which one was it?” She snaps her fingers, deep in thought. “Shoot, I’ll have to look it up later.”
I snort out a laugh and shake my head, grateful to have such an amazing mother-in-law.
“In all seriousness,” she says, “do they treat you good?”
“They treat me like gold,” I admit, then I spend the next several minutes telling her all about Brody and Hayden. How we met and how I quickly fell for both of them. Then I explain about the building situation—at least the little bit I know since I haven’t spoken to Hayden yet.
“At first, I was hurt and ended things, but then, once I was away from the situation and able to think, I realized I was acting prematurely, and I need to hear them out.”
Beatrice smiles. “Remember that time when you and Pete first moved in together, and you asked him to throw the clothes into the washer, and he grabbed the wrong clothes and turned the entire load pink?”
I laugh, remembering it all too well. “It was our first fight.” I was so mad he didn’t listen to what I had instructed. I was overwhelmed with school and work, and I told him he didn’t care enough to listen.
“You’ve come a long way since then. When I met you, you were young and had a lot of growing up to do, and I loved watching you grow into an amazing wife and mother.” She pats my hand. “Relationships take time and patience. And you’ve been out of the game for a while. It’s easy to forget how clueless men can be, but just remember that when a man loves you and cares about your well-being, he’ll make it right. What did Pete do the next time he turned the clothes pink?”
“He went out and bought me an entirely new wardrobe,” I say with a watery laugh.
“I know it’s still new with these guys, but if you’re giving them the time of day, I’d bet they’re good men, and if you give them a chance to explain and make things right, they will.”
My phone dings with an incoming text, and I glance at it, seeing a text from Brody: Sorry my nightly text is so late. I had to work late so I can leave early tomorrow to drive out to my parents’ place for dinner. I hope you had a fun day with your kids. Miss you.
His parents’ place for dinner… Shit! I was supposed to go with them until I took off to Florida in an attempt to protect my heart.
“Hey, Beatrice, I was thinking of leaving tomorrow morning. There’s this thing…”
She grins knowingly. “Let’s look at flights.”
FRIDAY MORNING
Brody: Morning, sweetness. Hope you have a great day with your kids. Feel free to send pics. Miss you.
“You sure you don’t want to come home with me?” I ask my kids again as we pull up to the airport. I already know what they’re going to tell me, but I have to ask anyway.
“No, thank you,” Miles says politely, making Stephen and Beatrice laugh under their breath.
“I’m gonna miss you so much, but I’m good here,” Evie adds.
Stephen pulls up, and everyone gets out to say goodbye. I hug my kids tight, telling them I love them and that I’ll call them once I land.
When tears prick my lids, Evie palms my cheeks. “Don’t cry, Mommy. We’ll be home soon, and if you miss us too much, just video call us.” She kisses my lips, and I wonder when the hell my babies grew up.
The flight is only a couple of hours, and when I land, I grab a taxi to go home so I can drop my luggage off, shower, and change. Since I don’t know where Brody’s parents live, after I’m ready to go, I call his office and ask Hillary if he’s still there, so I can figure out where to meet him. I’m hoping she'll know their address if he’s already on his way.
