“I’m Wagner’s soon-to-be stepmom,” Brooke announced, wiggling the fingers on her left hand. I couldn’t help but notice that my engagement ring had been much bigger, which wasironic since Greg had so much more money now. He probably didn’t want to invest as much in this one in case he decided to trade her in for a newer model too.
Andrew looked at Brooke blankly and said, “Great. I can already tell he’s an awesome kid.”
“Hey, Mom, I’m going to go warm up,” Wagner said.
“I’ll be watching!”
“Me too,” Brooke called behind, before turning her attention back to the pro. “Andrew, when should I come back to pick up Wagner?” She shot me a look. “I was trying to ask you this morning,Gray, but I couldn’t get your attention.”
“What? I didn’t even see you,” I lied.
She raised one eyebrow. “You’re a beautiful swimmer,” she said pertly, as if she didn’t want to compliment me but couldn’t help it.
When your big brother drowns when you’re a baby, your parents’ life mission is to make sure you and your sister are expert swimmers. I almost said that just to see her reaction, but it felt like overkill. I wondered if she already knew about Steven. I wondered what else she knew about me, what secrets I had shared with Greg that this total stranger was now privy to.
This afternoon Brooke and Greg were taking Wagner to Raleigh, where we lived the rest of the year, and then off to France, Italy, and Spain for three weeks on their first “family” trip. As if trying to take my company from me weren’t enough, he had to take my child away for nearly a month too.
“Brooke,” I said, “we need to go over a few last-minute details before the trip.”
Her smile was so self-satisfied that this time I couldn’t control my eye roll. “I sent you all the travel details this morning. Did you not see them? And I got the bags you packed and the lists you sent.” She paused and put a hand on my shoulder. “Gray, I promise you. I will take the best care of him in the world. I won’t let him out of my sight.”
I fought the urge to shrug her hand off my shoulder, but I had to admit her assurances did make me feel better. I mean, I still thought she was the devil. Even so, I knew she would take care of Wagner.
The tennis pro, witnessing the whole awkward exchange, looked from Brooke to me again and said, “So, wait. If she’s the soon-to-be stepmom, does that mean that you aren’t married…?”
He paused, and I said, “Gray. My name is Gray. And I am very, very close to being not married, God willing.”
Andrew laughed, and Brooke pursed her lips. It was obvious that she knew she should walk away but wanted to see what would happen next. “In that case,” he said, “can I take you out sometime?”
I nearly doubled over with laughter, and Brooke, clearly unable to help herself, said, “You can’t be serious.”
He looked to her again and said, “You can pick Wagner up at noon.”
She flushed and finally turned to walk away.
When Brooke was out of earshot, I smoothed my wet hair down my back and said, “Okay, okay. I see what’s happening here, and I appreciate it more than you know. I’ll see you around.” I turned to walk away, but Andrew grabbed my hand.
“I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.” For a second the twinkle in his dark-brown eyes mesmerized me, but then I snapped back to reality.
“Asking me out so my replacement could get a taste of her own medicine? That was chivalrous of you.”
He looked down shyly and let go of my hand. “Um. No. I mean, I am chivalrous. But I really just want to take you out to dinner.”
I eyed him skeptically.
He grinned. “If you don’t want to commit to dinner, what about a drink?”
“What are you, twenty? Twenty-two?”
I could see the blush rising up his cheeks. “Twenty-six,” he said, clearing his throat. “But, I mean, a couple years’ age difference is no big deal.”
I burst out laughing again. I guess I was hyperaware of age gaps because of Brooke and the whole divorce thing, but it was a fact that in a matter of months I would hit a large birthday milestone. There was a vast difference between twenty-six and thirty-four.
He shrugged.
Brooke called, “Andrew, the kids are getting antsy. Are we planning to start anytime soon?”
I shook my head and said, “Listen. Thanks. Take care of my kid.”
