I tighten my grip on the phone. “That’s not it.” Another lie. Shit. That hurt runs deep I reckon.
“It is,” Marshall says firmly.
“Marshall…”
“I know, brother. But I took a chance and look at my life now. I’ve got a sexy, hot wife and kids. They’re my sunshine after the storm. And you can have the same.”
I think about the bruising risk to my heart if Melody doesn’t want me.
“Jonas,” Marshall’s voice is thick with emotion. “It’s okay. Get out of those cars. Not because you were told to get out this time, but because you chose to leave them. Choose to believe that you can have something good, something lasting.”
I do what I always do when my emotions start to get the best of me. I deflect. “Did you learn that from one of your wife’s romance movies?”
“Saw it on the back of a beer can.”
“What kind of beer is that?”
“The cowboy kind. Manly as fuck.”
I laugh. We shoot the breeze for a few more minutes before finishing the call.
I deflected and joked but what Marshall said makes sense. Maybe I can have something good. Something lasting. Maybe I’m fretting for no reason and I’m assuming the worst. Maybe Melody would say yes to me. There’s only one way to find out.
Chapter 8
Melody
The silence wakes me. By now I’m used to hearing Jonas in the mornings since he’s such an early riser. I drag myself out of bed to get ready for work and take the kids to school.
After a quick shower, I throw on my favorite short dress, then add a light sweater since the weather app predicted lower temperatures until midday. I put my hair into a ponytail, then hurry down the hall to wake the kids. It takes a couple of tries, but finally, they stumble sleepily from bed.
While they’re dressing, I hurry to the kitchen to start packing their lunches. A note on the refrigerator, held in place with strawberry-shaped magnets catches my eye.
The kids’ lunches are on the top shelf. Coffee is ready. He’d signed it as The hot cowboy.
I reread the note with a goofy grin on my face as Kaden walks in.
He flops into a chair and leans his elbows on the table. “Why do I have to go to school every day?”
I pocket the note. “Because you need to learn stuff.”
“I already know stuff.”
He begins to list the things he’s learned during the year so far.
“Well, you have to learn a lot more, so it’ll help you when you’re an adult.”
“But the teacher doesn’t teach cowboy stuff. And that’s what I’m going to be.” He stands and tips his chin stubbornly. “I don’t need to go.”
Raven had warned me Kaden might balk.
“Maybe you just haven’t gotten to the cowboy lessons yet.”
He considers that, then shakes his head. “My dad can teach me.”
“Wouldn’t he tell you to go to school if was here?”
“He’s not here.”
