He stands a few feet from my car, hands shoved into his pockets. Bell and Tyson have their noses pressed against the back window, staring at him like he’s a raccoon. Myles is in the driver’s seat pretending to steer.
“Hey,” he says awkwardly. “Cute dogs.”
“What are you doing here?” I ask carefully.
“I… uh…” He shifts his weight. “I guess you’re Team Bronwyn too.”
I frown. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
He glances at the ground. “After what happened with you and Logan, I thought… if anyone would understand…”
I cross my arms. “You think you and I are the same?”
He shrugs, giving me a look I’m guessing works on most women. “You cheated on your husband. I cheated on my wife.”
I laugh. I can’t help it.
“You had an affair with the woman carrying your child,” I say evenly. “Behind your wife’s back.”
“It wasn’t an affair,” he says defensively.
“Was it more than once?” I ask.
He hesitates.
I nod once. “It was an affair.”
His jaw tightens. “I thought you’d get it.”
“I don’t,” I say calmly. “What I did was stupid and impulsive.” I take a step closer, lowering my voice. “You fucked your surrogate and then blamed your wife for it.”
He flinches.
“I am definitely not on your side,” I continue. “And now I’d like you to leave so I can be with my family.”
He looks around like he expects someone to jump in and defend him. After a long second, he nods and walks back down the driveway.
“What’d he want?” Logan asks from behind me.
I nearly jump out of my skin for the second time in five minutes.
“He wanted solidarity,” I say, taking a steadying breath. “I guess.”
“Seriously?” Logan asks.
I shrug, picking up the basket and heading toward the car, avoiding his eyes.
We may be good now.
But of course, Brad had to show up on a day that was supposed to be easy.
I decide I’m not letting him steal it.
So, I don’t.
I run with the boys. I throw the football when they ask. We tackle Logan in the grass. I beat everyone at tag and gloat about it.
By the time all four of my children collapse onto the blanket, sweaty and dramatic about how they’re “literally dying,” I feel lighter.
