Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
When he brought up divorce, despite knowing it was for the best, I was still crushed. I realized quickly that it wasn’t because I was losing him, specifically, that was devastating, though. It was being married to a man who I thought had been the “perfect” husband, who didn’t want to fight for our marriage, that hurt. I wasn’t enough. And that he could let me go so easily.
That was the point of my pain.
I’ve been scared to dream for something bigger than my marriage. I didn’t realize that I was doing it until meeting Jay. My sights have been set on finding someone to occupy space in my life. A man to make me feel less alone. I simply needed a seat filler, and the few men I dated after my divorce were just that.
But Jay? He could build the damn chair. And he’d do it with the very best wood and without missing a screw—no pun intended.
He’s slowly opening my eyes, and heart, to the possibility that I might have been shortchanging myself all these years. He’s showing me that a man can be my friend and my lover. There can be a roomful of people, and he can see only me.
“What are you thinking about?” he asks, stroking his thumb over the top of my hand.
I force a swallow past the lump in my throat. “Nothing, really. I was just thinking that you’re pretty damn amazing too.”
“I—”
“Gabrielle? Is that you?” A woman I vaguely recognize from my high school home economics class pauses at our table. “I didn’t know you were home.”
Jay slides his hand from mine and winks at me.
“Yes. I’m home,” I say, smiling at Mrs. Weston. “I moved back to Alden with my two boys.”
“Carter?” She scrunches her brows. “And Dylan, isn’t it? Are those your boys?”
I laugh. “I hope that doesn’t mean they’ve been giving anyone any trouble.”
“After my retirement three years ago, I found myself bored out of my mind. So I’ve been volunteering at the school nearly every day. Last week, I was subbing for Carter’s teacher in the elementary.” She laughs heartily. “Gabby, let me tell you that your little boy is the sweetest, funniest little thing.”
Thank God. My shoulders sag. “I’m so glad to hear that.”
“Now, your older boy, he’s not quite as . . . chipper,” she says, searching for the right word. “I chatted with him for a while the other day in the high school cafeteria. He was very polite and had excellent manners, don’t get me wrong. He just seems like less of a people person than Carter.”
I force a smile. “I think that’s a pretty accurate observation.”
“Well, I can’t wait to get to know them. I’ll tell them I know their mama next time and that might win me some brownie points.”
Or not.
Mrs. Weston turns to Jay. “How have you been, Jay? I didn’t mean to ignore you. I just haven’t seen Gabby in what feels like forever.”
“I’m good. I hope you’re the same, Mrs. Weston,” he says.
“Oh, yes, very well, thank you, Jay,” she answers.
She looks back and forth between the two of us. A cheeky grin slips across her face.
“I’ll let you two get back to it,” she says. “It was great to see you, Gabby. Come visit me sometime. I still live out by the ball fields. You remember where that is, don’t you?”
“Of course. It was good to see you, Mrs. Weston.”
She smiles at us. “Enjoy your lunch.”
Jay nods a goodbye as she walks away.
I settle back in my chair and heave a breath. “You do know that woman is one of the biggest gossips in this town, right?”
“No.”
“Well, she is. Half of the town will know she saw the two of us having lunch together by the time I get back home.”
Jay studies me. “Does that bother you?”
His gaze is heavy on me as I consider his question. My instant reflex is to panic and say yes, it does bother me. I expect that I should want to protect the boys and not have them hear that we’re together. I wait for a string of words to form that explains why having lunch in public might not be a great idea just yet.
This is all so new. And Jay doesn’t want this in the open . . . does he?
“Does it bother you?” I ask instead of answering him.
He’s thoughtful before responding. Finally, his eyes lock on mine.
“I want you to be comfortable,” he says softly. “If you want to keep this quiet—especially for the boys—then I understand that. That’s what we’ll do. But if it’s my decision to make, then I don’t care if anyone in this town knows that I’m interested in you. Because I am.” A grin tickles his lips. “I like you, Gabrielle. A lot.”
A rush of warmth floods my veins, and I bite my lip to keep from laughing in relief.