“How?” she asked cautiously. “It’s working the way it is. They’re so comfortable and happy.”
He shifted in his seat. “I want Shawna to spend the night.” He looked away, then back at her. “We’ve been going out for nearly six months. It’s getting serious. It’s not reasonable that I can’t see her for a week at a time.”
Jax resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “Oh, you canseeher, Harris. She’s welcome to hang out as much as you want. She can have dinner with the kids every night. But this isn’t about seeing her, is it? You want to be able to sleep with her on the weeks you’re in the house. This is about you getting laid.”
“You getting laid. You getting laid.”
The singsong voice came from up above. Jax groaned while Harris chuckled. “Way to go, Ramon.”
“Don’t encourage him.”
“You might want to keep him out of the kids’ section until he gets tired of saying it.”
“You getting laid,” Ramon repeated, then flapped his wings. “Go outside.”
She opened the door and he flew out, echoes of “You getting laid” trailing behind him.
Jax had no idea how she was going to distract Ramon with a new phrase but she would figure out something. In the meantime, she had a Harris-sized problem to deal with. She shut the door again and returned to her desk.
Her ex-husband had been a minor league baseball player when they’d met. He was tall and good-looking, with thick, dark, wavy hair and an easy smile. Her crush had been instant and she’d been thrilled when he’d noticed her—after all she had just been a small-town girl, going to a small-town college. But he’d been smitten and within nine months of that meeting, they’d been married.
She’d been a loving, understanding wife while he’d played in the minors for five years, waiting for his big break. She’d always encouraged him to follow his dreams while supporting him financially. When the call had come, she’d flown to Seattle to watch his debut with the Mariners. One year later, he’d blown out his shoulder, ending his major league career.
As far as she knew, he’d never been unfaithful. He’d been steady, a good father and a loving husband—right until he’d left her and filed for divorce.
For the first eight months, there’d been a string of women but about six months ago, he’d started seeing Shawna—a relatively new resident who was a teacher at the elementary school across the street from Harris’s high school. According to Jax’s sister, Ryleigh, also an elementary school teacher, Shawna was sweet, caring and good with her students. Of course she was also gorgeous, blonde and all of twenty-six, so twelve years younger than Jax and fourteen years younger than Harris, but who was she to criticize.
“No,” she said, careful to keep her tone neutral. “Per the parenting plan, no adult overnights unless the parties are married or at least engaged.”
His expression tightened. “That’s not fair. Shawna’s important to me.”
“While that’s lovely, it’s not relevant. Come on, it’s only an issue every other week. Figure something out. Have a quickie before school or something. Your sex life isn’t my concern, and I’m not changing the parenting plan because of your girlfriend. What we’re doing works for the kids and that’s what’s important.”
“I knew you’d be difficult.” He rose. “Maybe if you started dating, you’d be a little more understanding.”
“I could be madly in love, but I wouldn’t change my mind. Gentry’s eleven and Xander’s only eight. They’re too young to have to deal with you and Shawna sleeping together.”
“Whatever,” he grumbled and walked to the door. He jerked it open so hard, it banged against the wall.
“Immature much?” she said to his retreating back.
Ramon flew in. “You getting laid.”
“Actually I’m not, but thanks for asking.”
She held out her hand and he flew down to land on her, then he leaned in and pressed his beak to her cheek.
“Love you,” he said.
“Love you, too.”
“Time for a snack.”
She laughed. “Of course it is. Come on, let’s go see what’s in the kitchen.”
The day had been everything she’d dreamed of, Ryleigh Weaver thought to herself as she walked along the sand with her boyfriend, Dustin, at her side. Santa Barbara had been great—all pretty and quirky with fun little shops to explore. They’d gone hiking in the morning, had hung out in town in the afternoon and now, after a wonderful dinner, were walking on the beach at sunset. Almost nothing could make the moment more special.
Is it now?
