I groaned. “Why would you assume he’s hot?”
“Because if he wasn’t, you wouldn’t be calling me about it.”
I sighed, giving in. “His name is Will. He’s…easy to talk to.”
“Sounds dangerous,” Meredith said with a laugh. She was teasing me, but her voice was laced with just enough seriousness to make me uneasy.
I groaned. “You’re not helping.”
“Ok, I’ll try harder. You said Jason and you have been distant. Why? Work? Or does Mr. Serious have a fling of his own?”
I hesitated just long enough for her to pounce.
“Wait. Is there another woman?” Her voice sharpened.
I exhaled. “Honestly, I don’t know. There’s someone he works with in the New York office. I think her name is Shannon. Maybe Shannon O’Connell.”
Jason cheating? I guess anything was possible.
Meredith hummed knowingly. “Shannon O’Connell, huh? All right, give me a minute, and I’ll find everything there is to know about this hoe.”
“Meredith!” I gasped, half-laughing, half-scolding. “We don’t know that anything’s even going on!”
“You know I live for this stuff,” she said unapologetically. “I’ll have her LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and probably her ex-boyfriend’s playlist shortly.”
“Meredith…” I groaned again, but deep down, I was grateful. She was the one person who wouldn’t judge me for my paranoia—or for needing answers. Her words lingered as I hung up.
At school pick-up, I spotted Kelly, standing near the gate. Of course, this was her week, not Will’s. Her white sweater and loose jeans made her look like she had walked out of a catalog. I watched her for a moment with a mix of jealousy and curiosity bubbling inside me.
What did she think of Will now? Did she see him the way I do?
Bebe and James came bouncing out and snapped me out of my haze.
When I got home, I decided to order takeout. My hangover hadn’t eased, and I was too drained to cook.
Jason arrived home around dinner time, and for once, he was surprisingly engaged with the kids, which caught me off guard. I heard James squealing with delight as Jason lifted him into the air, twirling him around like he was weightless. Bebe jumped in, too, throwing herself onto Jason’s back and giggling as she tried to wrestle James off.
“Hey! No double-teaming!” Jason laughed, pretending to stagger under their weight. He collapsed onto the couch, pulling both kids down with him in a pile of limbs and laughter. I couldn’t help but smile as I watched them. Jason looked…happy.
His tall frame filled the room, his dark hair slightly mussed from the long day. The olive tone of his skin glowed under the warm light, accentuating his sharp, chiseled features. He was still undeniably good-looking, and moments like this reminded me why I fell in love with him in the first place.
But then, a pang of something sharp and bitter settled in my chest. I thought of Shannon.
If he was really having an affair with her, did she ever see this side of him, too? Or was she drawn to the confident, polished version of Jason, the one who commanded a room and solved problems with ease? I didn’t even need to ask if she was attracted to him. How could she not be? He was the type of manpeople noticed; he tended to attract attention regardless of his intentions, and whether he was trying or not.
The thought made my stomach twist, and I forced myself to step into the room, shaking off the feeling. All of this was pure speculation.
Jason was so immersed in playing with the kids that he didn’t notice me at first. It was nice to see him like this, present and fully engaged, but it also stung. Where was this version of Jason when it was just the two of us?
“Come on, Dad! You can’t beat us!” Bebe yelled, trying to pin Jason’s arms while James jumped onto his chest.
“Oh, you think so?” Jason replied, flipping both kids onto the couch cushions, leaving them shrieking with laughter.
We ate around the kitchen table, the kids regaling us with stories of their day. It felt familiar, comfortable even, but there was still a chasm between Jason and I couldn’t quite bridge.
After dinner, Jason volunteered to do the dishes. I was stunned but grateful, though a part of me wondered if it was guilt motivating him.
“Long day?” I asked, leaning against the counter as he loaded the dishwasher.
