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)
Then help me snag Jay.
The thought alone makes my heart crack a little more, because I don’t want to want him. I wish I didn’t want to snag him. If only I could hold on to the anger and the hurt and stop replaying the pain in his eyes when he ended things between us.
“We’re going to a play on Monday night,” Scottie says. “And he made reservations at a fancy restaurant in Columbus. I’m so excited.”
“I’m happy for you,” I say.
“Thanks.” Her smile slowly fades. “Do you wanna go or . . .”
“Yes, Gabby. What’s been going on with you and that hunk of a neighbor of yours?” Cricket asks. The room grows still, and she sets her glass down. “What? Why are you all looking at me like that?”
I take a breath. “It’s fine. Jay and I aren’t seeing each other anymore.”
Cricket brings a hand to her chest. “What? Why?”
The thought of going into it blow by blow is exhausting. I’ve watched it in my head like a bad movie a million times. I’ve analyzed it, tried to make it make sense—tried to figure out how to punch holes in his arguments so I can march over there and demand he make it make sense. But every replay of the night Jay broke up with me ends the same way.
He doesn’t want to be a part of my life. Plain and simple. And you can’t argue that.
I take a long drink and will the vodka to kick in.
“It’s a long story,” I say, realizing Cricket isn’t moving on until I give her a satisfactory answer. “Basically, he doesn’t want to get wrapped up in the kids’ lives, and I can’t blame him.”
Cricket takes a moment to digest this. “That’s surprising. It’s not like he didn’t know you have kids.”
“I just think it was a lot different when he had to engage with them, you know? When things got real.” I sigh. “And when Dylan turned into a shithead.”
“Oh, Gabby,” Cricket says. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Truly.” Liar. “The kids obviously come first, and if he can’t accept them, then he can’t have me.”
“I’m just so surprised,” Cricket says. “I didn’t get that vibe from him.”
Scottie puts her arm around me and pulls me into her side. The human contact from someone other than Carter crawling over me, asking me why he can’t go to Jay’s, is nice.
“Della, give her advice,” Cricket says. “You saved my marriage. Save hers.”
I lean off Scottie and laugh. “We were barely boyfriend and girlfriend. This isn’t a marriage to be fixed. It’s probably not even something that will work in anyone’s imagination—even Della’s.” I know. I’ve tried.
“Try the trench coat. It works.” Cricket shrugs. “Here’s a tip: use lingerie that can be torn off your body easily. But don’t use the expensive stuff because it just gets obliterated.”
“Look at you,” Della says. “You’re slowly turning into me.”
Cricket points at her. “I will never do such a thing. Don’t even joke about that.”
We all laugh.
Everyone busies themselves getting our meal together. Scottie takes a platter of sandwiches from the refrigerator, lamenting that she had to order them because we didn’t give her time to plan an actual meal. Della whips up another pitcher of the peach drinks, and Cricket sets the table. I take the potato salad and sandwich toppings to the table and set them next to the chips.
We chat about nothing as we work, keeping the conversation lighthearted. I weigh in occasionally, but my mind is mostly on Jay.
Once again, I consider writing him a letter. But what good will it do? Until he changes his view of dating a single mom, nothing I can do or say will help. And that’s what sucks.
Scottie peeks out the window as a truck goes by. “Was that Kyle?”
“Ah, yes.” Cricket sighs happily. “Kyle got a new girlfriend, an adorable little thing named Matilda. Well, it turns out that Matilda loathes the sound of his truck as much as I do. And Kyle quickly took it to the shop and had it fixed.”
“You didn’t pay her off, did you?” Della asks.
“No. But I’m not above it.”
“How are your boys doing, Gabby?” Scottie asks. “Are they getting settled in at school and everything?”
We all take a seat around the table and begin making our plates.
“Carter loves it,” I say, taking a small turkey sandwich from the tray. “He has three birthday party invitations next week. His popularity is starting to get expensive.”
Everyone laughs.
“Dylan is . . .” I scoop a bit of potato salad next to my fork. “Dylan is doing okay. His grades are very mediocre. He’s not enthused to go to school in the morning. But I must admit that I haven’t gotten a call from the principal in over a week, so that’s a plus.”