He hadn’t been strong enough back then. He ran faster than I could sayI’m pregnant. Forget that I never even tried to tell him.
This wasn’t going to work. I needed my control back. Hadn’t I learned my lesson years ago when it had been stripped from me ... twice ... first by my former teammates, then by Drew when he abandoned me.
I liked when the ball was in my court. The advantage was all me, or as they say in tennis, “Ad in.”
Not out.
Jules
After years of playing Claire, dutiful server, I knew exactly how to play the role ofhappy-go-lucky the morning after.I pasted on a smile and drank my coffee with Drew watching me over the rim of his mug. Darla seemed as unfazed over the sleepover as she did about learning my real name.
I let Drew take her to school. He didn’t know it, but it was a parting gift.
“We’re going to tell her soon,” he whispered in my ear as he went out the door.
Not if I have anything to do with it.
As soon as he was gone, his SUV pulling out of the lot, I called Bryce claiming to be sick. Then I packed up our belongings and transferred them to my car, shoving most in the trunk and front seat. I left the furniture. Most of it had been there when we moved in anyway.
When it was time to pick up Darla at school, I pulled my fully loaded sedan up next to the sidewalk and beckoned her with a wave and a smile.
“Hey, Mom. Drew went to work.”
“I know, sweetie.”
“Is Molly coming tonight?” Darla asked from the backseat, the disarray around her going unnoticed.
“We’re going to take a quick trip tonight. It’ll be fun,” I lied.
“What? What about school?”
“You can miss a few days, Dar.” Clearly, I hadn’t thought a damn thing through. I dreamed up the words, serving them up like dessert. “I’ve missed spending time with you since the summer and being busy with the move.”
“Oh,” Darla said with a smile. I had her atI missed you. “Is Drew coming?”
“No, sweetie.”
Turning onto the freeway, I went over my bank account in my head. I turned up the pop music and planned the next few days. I would tell Bryce I was still sick through the weekend. Darla and I could spend a long weekend in a motel, maybe near Jacksonville. I could scout out a diner job, where I could work days and be home at night. Make a lot of tips and keep myself under the radar.
“Why? I like Drew, and I have my clinic this weekend with the boys. I’m tougher than them. That’s why Drew calls me a superstar.”
It had been five minutes, and all my daughter talked about was Drew. I was pretty sure he was sitting in his office dreaming about her. Just her. Not me. If I wasn’t careful, he’d take her away from me.
Defeat rained over my plan and me. I knew it was flawed. I knew he would seek me out; nothing would stand between him and Darla. Yet I kept my foot on the gas. I had to follow through.
I was a desperate junkie trying to get clean and running away from their dealer.
I needed the space. He needed to understand that.
I needed strength and direction. He should have seen that.
I needed him. He didn’t need me.
He’d been the one to leave the first time.
Drew didn’t get to waltz back in at his leisure and take over the life I’d built. It might be small, but it was mine.
Drew
