For a stray still healing from a bum leg, he showed no sign of trauma and was wonderful with Emily. Not biting or nipping at all, only running around with a puppy smile on that homely little face.
“Doug and Benny have been married for four years. They usually get along. But Benny’s doubting himself lately, and Doug is handsome and younger, and he likes being noticed.”
“He seemed like a nice enough guy to me.”
“That’s right. You met him at the library.” She sipped and smiled, recalling what Doug had said about Emily’s questions. “He’s a great guy, and so is Benny.”
“But still prone to jealousy and arguments.”
“Aren’t all couples?”
“Were you and Stephen?” he asked.
She paused, surprised he knew her ex’s name. She had mentioned him before, but Reggie had remembered. She stared at him, and he glanced away and drank his coffee.
“Forget it. None of my business, really.”
“No, it’s fine. Stephen and I had a good marriage. Until we didn’t. We grew apart, unfortunately. I wanted a home and family. He wanted to travel the world and pretend Emily was an extension of us and not a real person. With him, it was all about building his business, not his family.” She swallowed the rest of her anger at her ex, surprised it still burned. “He’s a nice guy and a good”—not great—“dad. But we’re both so much better off apart.”
“Huh.”
She watched him, waiting for more of a reaction. “What does ‘huh’ mean?”
“Nothing. I just thought there’d be more drama. Always seems to be that way with exes.”
She sighed. “And that there is another sign. There should be more drama when people who love each other break up, shouldn’t there?”
“I don’t know. I don’t like drama, as a rule.”
“Me neither.”
He smiled at her.
“What?”
“You’re cute.”
She frowned. “Now you’re insulting.”
“Cute is good.” He glanced at her toes and smiled wider. “I love pink.”
“Yeah? I love yellow.” He wore a yellow T-shirt.
“Thanks.”
“Now how would you like it if I saidyoulooked cute?”
“I’d say thank you.”
She scowled. “Fine. How about if I told my friends you were ‘nice’?”
He straightened. “Nice?”
“Yep. A supersweet, nice guy. Polite too. Hmm, what else? Well-dressed?”
He shuddered. “All things you say about a guy you’re dumping. Fine. I’m not nice, and you’re not cute.”
“Better.”
