“But it’s almost half time. They should be here by now.”
“Mmhmm.”
“Maybe you should call them.”
“No way.”
Debbie finally settled back in her seat and crossed her legs. Today, she wore some sort of wine-colored, flowing, silk pants with high heels and a floral blouse that brought out all of the shades of red in her hair. She looked downright sexy yet ridiculous sitting in a camp chair at the park dressed like a supermodel, wearing diamonds and rubies, but Austin was glad she was here. In case Cheyenne and Tucker did show up.
He did his best to appear relaxed even though he seethed inside. He knew Cheyenne wouldn’t show, yet the disappointment that filled him on his boys’ behalf nearly consumed him. Telling the kids last night that they would be having lunch with their mother tomorrow had been one of the hardest things he’d ever done.
The boys had handled it better than Savvy. He’d talked to her for a long time after the boys went to bed and let her know she was almost an adult, and no one would make her do anything she didn’t want to. He also tried to prepare her to face her mother by reminding her how self-centered Cheyenne still was.
“ShouldIcall her?” Debbie asked.
“No.”
“How can you just sit there acting like you don’t have a care in the world?”
“I stopped worrying about Cheyenne the day she walked out on me, leaving me with three children to raise.” That wasn’t entirely true, but Austin had realized long ago he was better off without his ex-wife in his life.
For the hundredth time in two days, he wished Cheyenne had never shown up on his doorstep. He pulled his phone out and checked the time. “Knowing Cheyenne, she’s just getting out of bed.”
Debbie’s brow furrowed. “You knew she wouldn’t come to the game.”
He gave a curt nod. “I know Cheyenne, and I know she can’t be bothered with children’s extracurricular activities. If it wasn’t for Tucker’s promotion, she wouldn’t be here at all.”
Debbie let out a heavy sigh as she folded her arms over her chest. “I thought she was at least a little bit sincere when she said she really did want to see the kids.”
“She’ll do whatever she needs to to get Tucker his raise.”
“Are they likely to bail on lunch too? If so, you’ll have a lot of food to eat. I placed an order for finger sandwiches, two different salads, a fruit tray, and a cheesecake assortment from Charity’s Diner first thing this morning.”
Austin’s mouth began to water even as he wished Debbie hadn’t gone to so much effort and expense. Between paying Amy to cook and serve that fancy dinner last night and now lunch, it’d take him a month to come up with the funds to pay her back. Not that she’d let him.
He shook his head. “Cheyenne wants a tour of your house too badly.”
“You haven’t even had a tour of my house.”
“Not a guided tour, no. But I searched your whole house for Noah, remember?” Austin recalled the discomfort he felt as he rifled through her closet.
“That’s right. Can you believe that was only last Monday?” She grinned, and his heart tripped in his chest. “It feels like so much has happened since then.”
“Yeah, we got engaged.” He gave her a sly grin.
They’d already been congratulated on their engagement twice this morning by random people he didn’t know, but Debbie did. She’d confessed that her sisters knew the truth behind their engagement, but she also said they wouldn’t tell anyone.
He hoped she was right. Amy must have told some people last night after she left Debbie’s house though. Otherwise, no one would know he and Debbie were engaged.
The thought both warmed him and terrified him. Part of him wished their engagement was real. He liked the idea of a future with Debbie. One where his children had a caring mother. The other part of him knew he could never measure up to the kind of man she deserved.
She needed someone who was financially comfortable and didn’t get intimidated by wealth every time they turned around.
“So, um… which of your previous husbands gave you the ring?”
“Which ring?” She held out her hands, displaying four separate rings. All different than the ones she wore last night, except the one on the ring finger of her left hand.
“The one you’re pretending is your engagement ring.” The words came out through a tight throat.
