CHAPTER 1
My mother always said, ‘A man is only good for one thing, and it isn’t love.’ I wanted to prove her wrong. I believed love could be different—that I could be different. But now, as I stand in my bathroom, staring at my reflection, I wonder if she was right.
“Emma Renee Davis, please tell me you’re not calling your ex-husband again.” My best friend since we were kids huffs behind me in frustration.
I flinch at the sound of my maiden name. It’s been almost a year since I decided to divorce my husband of six years, but there were things I was still getting used to. For a large portion of my twenties, I had adopted this secret identity I was desperate to shake off.
Carefully placing my phone on the counter, I raise my hands in defeat. “I just wanted to check in on Mi one more time before we go out.”
It was the first weekend of my new shared custody agreement with Colton and the longest I’ve gone without seeing my son since he was born two years ago.
I just wanted to hear his voice. Milo could nowconfidently say “Mama,” and every time I heard those two syllables tumble out of his mouth, everything felt okay.
But I needed some time away from Milo. He was my favorite person in the entire world, but I was starting to forget who I was before being his mom. Hell, I was starting to forget who I was before I was Colton’s wife.
I exhale slowly, trying to relieve some tension settling in my chest. My fingers twitch against the counter next to my phone. If I could hear his little voice one more time, I would be able to enjoy the rest of the night.
As if reading my mind, Wren snatches my phone and shoves it in her back pocket. “Not so fast. You’re cut off for the night.”
I try my best to glare at her, but I know she’s right. I can’t remember the last time I did something just for me. My life was constantly revolving around nap schedules, play dates and helping Mi adjust to the new apartment we’d moved into a week ago.
I sigh, dragging a hand down my face. “This is going to suck, isn’t it?”
Wren nods her head. “Absolutely. But that’s what I’m here for. I’m going to force you to have a good time whether you like it or not.”
I roll my eyes and brace my hands against the bathroom counter. This is going to be a long night. “Do you have any concealer? I’m going to need it.”
I hear Wren reply a softyesbefore sauntering off to find her purse. I attempt to dig around in the makeup bag in front of me, but I know I won’t find anything that hasn’t expired within the last two years. I rarely have time to shower as a new mom, let alone apply any makeup.
Like a magician, Wren pops into the reflection of the smudged bathroom mirror and hands me a tube of liquid gold that will hopefully cover up months of trying to sleep-train Mi. We still have bad nights, but he’s finally going to bed at a decent hour.
“So, where would you like to go on your big night out?” Wren asks before taking a seat on the edge of the bathtub in my tiny bathroom.
I stop slathering on my concealer before throwing her a look somewhere between annoyed and playful. We both know there’s only one bar in town.
Wren starts laughing at the obscure question and I join in. After the week I had, it’s nice to do something as simple as laughing with my best friend.
“I know,” she says before finally sobering up from her laughing fit. “So, the new apartment is looking good so far. How are you settling in?”
I take a deep breath as I consider her question. After months of searching for a place and awkwardly shacking up with my ex-husband, I finally found an affordable apartment on the outskirts of Honey Grove.
It was a cute little two-bedroom space in the bottom half of a duplex I was renting from Wren’s dad’s friend. Everything about the place was outdated, but there was something comforting about the soft yellow walls and the quaint little kitchen with mosaic tiling. It was the kind of place I could see myself building a home in.
There were still boxes haphazardly scattered in the small hallway connecting the two bedrooms, but we were mostly unpacked.
“Good. I—” Before I can finish my response, we’re interrupted by an obnoxious knock that kicks my mommy instincts into overdrive. My stomach clenches, and a familiar dread begins to creep in.
I quickly jog to the front door, expecting to find Colton on the other end with Milo wrapped in his arms. It’s the first thought that always pops up in my mind anytime I’m away from him for an extended period of time.
Bracing myself, I wrap my hand around the doorknob and pull it open. I expect to find my ex-husband standing there, but instead, I’m met with a tall stranger casually leaning against the door frame.
“Can I help you?” I ask hesitantly.
His eyes slowly roll up my body before I’m met with light blue eyes that perfectly compliment the sandy blond hair poking out of his baseball cap.
“You’re not Henry,” he says with a smirk.
I instinctively wrap my arms around my body, trying to keep his eyes from any more unwanted exploration. “Nope. Not Henry.”
