“And they’re good kids.”
“Kids.”Oscar chuckled.“I said that the other day, and Alfie got mad.I still see the little boy we brought home from the hospital when I look at him.”Oscar’s gaze slid to the pictures on the side table.Emily and Alfie were sleeping in the rocking chair that still sat in the corner.The other picture was Emily and Victor sleeping on the couch.
I knew the pictures as well as I did my own pictures of Evie.The memories faded over time, but the pictures allowed us to hang on to the pieces of their childhood we’d forgotten.The moments we were too tired to enjoy when they were happening but missed when they were over.
“You raised two good men,” I told him.
Oscar nodded, dragging his gaze from the pictures.“I just wish they remembered their mother.Emily would have loved to have been here.”
“They know her as well as they can.”
Oscar nodded, his throat working to swallow.
I was complaining about my ex-wife being a pain in the ass, and Oscar lost his wife.“You okay?”
Oscar nodded.“Yeah, I’ll be all right.The house gets quiet sometimes, you know.”
“I’m learning.”
We finished our beers, and I let myself out, knowing I needed to get home to see Evie and fix dinner.
And make sure Evie was okay with the change in plans neither of us had any control over.
I did not sleep well.Evie was fine with the change to her graduation party plans, but it still rubbed me wrong.Why, I wasn’t sure.Hannah had been manipulating and controlling me since we met.There was no reason to expect anything else from her.
I finally swung my legs out of bed as the sun started to brighten my curtains.I went to the kitchen and made a pot of coffee, looking out the window for my temporary neighbor and smiling when I saw her sitting in the same chair she was in the day before.
It was in her best interest for me to stay away from her, but I really didn’t want to.She was only in town for a few months, and there was nothing for Hannah to worry about.Reegan was not sticking around, and we were not a thing.Even if she did spark a fantasy or two.
I poured two cups of coffee and fixed hers how she said she liked it, then carried both mugs outside to the fire pit in Ashlyn’s backyard.
“Good morning,” I said when I got closer.
Reegan looked up at me, a hint of a smile lifting her lips before she screwed them into a scowl.“Morning.”
Her reception was colder than Amethyst Bay on a winter morning.What the hell was that about?I handed over the coffee, and she set it on the table instead of drinking it.“Did I not fix it correctly?”
“I’m sure it’s fine.”
“Did I do something else?”
Reegan glanced at me, then dragged her gaze back to the water.“No, you didn’t do anything wrong.I’m just not into cheating.”
“Oh.I apologize.I was only trying to be friendly.I didn’t realize you were seeing someone.”
“Not me.You.”
“What?”I paused, looking at her and seeing the anger in her eyes.“I’m not seeing anyone.”
Her dark eyebrows shot up, highlighting her disbelief.She scoffed.“I hope not, but you are married.”
I held up both hands to show the absence of a ring.“No, I’m not.”
“I saw you yesterday at Daily Ritual.With the blonde woman.This town is too small for you to be sitting out here flirting with me and not think your wife is going to find out.”
I opened my mouth to reply and found myself laughing.“You’re right, this town is too small for that.But I’m not married.”
“I saw you.”
