Or maybe worse than guilt. Maybe shame. Yeah, that was it. He was ashamed of himself. He’d left Riley on her own with his baby in her belly. Because he’d wanted her to call him, kiss his ass, beg him not to be upset with her.
“It’s true, isn’t it?” Lenore demanded with a hard toss of her blond head. “I knew it. It’s true, and it’s yours.”
What was there to say to that but, “You bet it is. And what is this big act you’re giving me now? Women do get pregnant, Lenore. It’s nothing that hasn’t happened before, and you know that damn well.”
She pinched up her mouth, narrowed her eyes at him and whisper-shouted, “What exactly are you implying?”
He was about to answer that question in no uncertain terms—but then he glanced toward his crew cab where Roger sat, nose pressed against the passenger window, eyes full of doggy concern. It was like Josh could read that dog’s mind.Dial it back, dude. Don’t go there…
Lenore had her hands braced on her hips now. She was waiting for him to deliver the next barely veiled insult that would continue to escalate this petty, pointless argument.
He took another deep breath and let it out slowly. “Lenore. I really don’t want to fight with you. I want to get along with you. We have a wonderful son together, and I am so grateful that we do. Now. Do you need me to pick up Shane from Riley’s house?”
She answered his question with one of her own. “Howcouldyou—and with Shane’s best friend’s mom of all the women you could choose? People see you together all the time. It’s just wrong—and the next thing you know, you’ll be marrying her, I just know that you will.”
He almost laughed. Because hewouldmarry Riley in a hot minute if she’d only have him. But she’d already said no. “Lenore. How long do we have to keep doing this? We are divorced. And my relationship with Riley Thompson is none of your business.”
Now her mouth was quivering. A tear slid down her cheek, and she choked out a soft sob. “I hate this. I didn’t want things to be this way between us…”
“I don’t, either. We can do better, Lenore.”
She shrugged and looked away.
“From now on,” he said in a low, even tone, “if it doesn’t have to do with Shane, please call someone else when you need help around the house or with the car or whatever. It’s not good for either of us to get into these arguments all the time. They go nowhere, and they just cause more trouble between us. Trouble between us is not good for Shane. Lenore, we’re divorced, and that’s not going to change.”
She sniffled and brushed away another tear. “I guess I’d been hoping…” She didn’t finish the thought, and he didn’t help her. “Never mind,” she said with a wave of her hand. And then she surprised the hell out of him by admitting, “I tossed two of Shane’s action figures down the toilet in the hall bathroom. And then I threw half a roll of toilet paper in after that. And then I flushed and flushed and flushed again. There’s water everywhere…”
He said nothing. It was not his problem to resolve.
“Go ahead,” she said sourly. “Whatever it is you’re thinking, just say it.”
“You sure about that? I’m tired of all this, Lenore. If I tell you what I’m thinking, you probably won’t like it, and we’ll be back at each other’s throats again.”
She frowned. And then she straightened her shoulders. “Honestly, I want to know what you think. I won’t give you any crap about it. Just say what’s on your mind.”
Did he believe her? Not really. But still. It was worth yet another try. “Okay, then. Here goes. Is there someone you can talk to about the things that are bothering you?”
“It’syou!” she cried. “You’rewhat’s bothering me.”
“Am I, really? I’m just your ex. We parent our child as a team, and I think overall, we’re doing a great job of that. Shane’s a happy kid.”
“But I want us to—”
“Stop.” He said it gently as he put up a hand. “Lenore, there is nous, not anymore. Will you please just admit that?”
“Fine,” she muttered. “You’re right. There is nous.”
“Okay, then. So you need to find someone to call when things get to be too much for you. And I’m not just referring to problems with the car or around the house. I’m talking about someone you can trust to help you work out what’s bothering you. If you don’t have a friend you feel comfortable talking to, maybe you should find a therapist or join one of those discussion groups where you can talk out whatever’s weighing on your mind.”
Her shoulders slumped again. “Yeah,” she said. “Maybe I should. Maybe I will…” And then she was shaking her head. “I made a real mess in there. And for what?” She looked up and directly into his eyes. “You and I are never getting back together, are we, Josh?”
“No, Lenore. We’re not.”
She let out a long sigh. “Right. Got it. You should go.”
* * *
When Josh got back in his truck, Roger greeted him with an anxious whine. He gave the sweet mutt a pat on the head. “Don’t worry, buddy. Everything worked out fine.”
