“Yes,” I shouted as I jumped up. “He was telling me about—” I didn’t want to tell Jennie about Austin’s addiction, so I had to keep it somewhat vague. “He was telling me about this medical condition he has. He needs medicine to keep himself functional, but his job coaching hockey for kids doesn’t cover insurance benefits since it’s technically not full-time.”
“Oh.” Jennie pursed her lips. “Maybe he was asking, then, because he wanted to work at the school?”
“That makes sense,” I said, trying to work through the issue. “Then he’d be forced to see me more, which is maybe why we never exchanged numbers.”
Jennie lifted her cup in agreement. “Exactly. That’s why we’re teachers—basically professional problem solvers.”
I laughed, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. “Okay, maybe it wasn’t as weird as I thought.”
Jennie shook her head. “No, sis. Don’t get my words twisted. That question was still out of the fucking blue, but it has some context.”
“Thanks for helping me work through this.” I stood up and glanced at the clock. “I should get going though. It’s getting late.”
“Anytime.” Jennie got up and pulled me into a quick hug before I headed out, making my way down to my car.
Two more days and I’d get to see him again. I could wait until then... right?
15
austin
“Are you finally going to tell us why you dragged us here around the kitchen table and sent your mom and sister on an extended errand?” Ledger asked, taking a sip of his coffee.
“And why we’re here at the ass crack of dawn?” Dirks muttered, rubbing his eyes.
I fiddled with the coffee machine in the corner, my nerves buzzing. I was trying to keep it casual, but the plan I’d come up with since dropping Charlie off last night felt increasingly ridiculous. I wasn’t sure how they were going to react.
Unlike last time, I knew I had to include the two people who mattered most to me. My mom was too emotional to handle this conversation, or else I would’ve had her here too.
“You’re making me nervous,” Ledger said as he rubbed his beard and pulled out the chair next to him.
“Well, I am nervous,” I muttered and took a seat, setting my mug down.
I took a deep breath and looked between my stepdad and the person I considered my best friend. “I need to ask your opinions, but also I need to tell you your opinions don’t really matter. I think I need to say this aloud.”
Dirks raised his eyebrows. “That makes no sense, but I’m here for it.”
“I think I might get married again.”
Silence. Utter fucking silence. Ledger and Dirks just stared at me, their expressions frozen, as if the air had been sucked out of the room.
Ledger burst into laughter so suddenly that he spilled his coffee all over the table, the dark liquid pooling and dripping onto the floor. Dirks followed suit, practically doubling over as he laughed hysterically, clutching his stomach.
“Dude,” Dirks managed between breaths, wiping a tear from his eye. “Why?”
I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling my face flush. “Yeah, I get it. It sounds wild, but hear me out.”
“Wild?” Dirks said. “Not wild, but it does sound very fucking familiar to what happened last time.”
I jumped out of the chair and ran my hands through my curls. I knew this was going to happen, but I hated it regardless.
Ledger was still chuckling, trying to mop up the coffee with a napkin. “You’ve been on one date since the divorce, and now you’re talking about marriage?”
“It’s not like that.” I protested, a knot tightening in my chest. “This isn’t about love or anything like that. It’s... logistical.”
Ledger cocked his head and pulled the chair out. “Sit. Let’s talk about the logistics. I’m not saying no, but you had to know how this would sound.”
I calmed down as I sat. “Yeah, I know, but I have a whole plan.”
