Like Molly’s ex, Kaiya’s was not in the picture. Unlike Molly, Rachel had never even seen Kaiya show interest in anyone as a relationship possibility. She seemed more interested in all-natural skincare products.
“It’ll have to be after Rachel gets back from her big summer trip,” Sadie said.
“Shhh,” Rachel said, savoring the unwrapping of her sample. She rarely got gifts that came with wrapping and bows, so she took her time with it. Then she hit pay dirt. “Lavender.” Rachel held up the bottle like she was on a game show with Pat Sajak.
“Woot.” April gave Rachel a high five.
“Is that Gavin?” Molly asked, shielding her eyes from the sun.
Rachel turned and the excitement from lavender samples disintegrated as a weight seemed to be placed squarely on her shoulders. Yes, that was Gavin. Gavin with their two boys, the two dogs, and a couple duffel bags of stuff.
He was heading straight toward her.
Her limbs seemed to get heavier with each step he took in her direction. Still, Rachel stood. But she didn’t move forward.
“Do you want to take him some moisturizer samples?” Kaiya asked.
Rachel shook her head. “Don’t waste them on him. He doesn’t know how to moisturize.”
“That freaking guy,” Molly said, under her breath. “I don’t like him.”
“I’m reserving judgment.” Sadie had secured her lawyer mask of neutrality in place. She nodded, doing that attorney thing where she focused her entire attention on a situation. She’d make an excellent mom someday, if she decided to have kids. Her children would be just the right amount of terrified when she used that expression on them.
Rachel started toward her kids. They paused only briefly, each letting out an individual, “Hi, Mom,” before letting out a whoop and bolting toward Ollie and the other kids playing on the playground.
A drippy, oozy feeling settled inside Rachel at the expression on Gavin’s face. The boys weren’t due back until the afternoon, but that wasn’t the part that made her feel icky. He looked like he had something to tell her, and that something was not going to be enjoyable.
“Gavin?” Rachel asked as he wrangled with the two leashes holding the pups.
“I know. I’m early.” The guy looked beat. Like he’d not had Travis bring him evening margaritas.
He held out the leashes for the dogs and Rachel took them.
“I…” He shoved his hands through his hair. He had dark hair like Travis, but Gavin’s was a bit longer around the ears. The kind of haircut that took extra maintenance to make it seem like it didn’t.
“Are you okay?” she asked, because he didn’t really look okay.
“Last night was…” He studied the grass.
“Two-kids-and-two-puppies hard?” she responded.
He glanced up then. “I fucked up with the whole puppy thing.”
No kidding.
“It is what it is, Gav.” She held the leashes so the dogs couldn’t run off, and they settled at her feet.
A long pause descended over them. He had something he wanted to say, she could feel it. For some reason, he wasn’t spilling it. And, since she had no idea what he wanted to share, she didn’t speak either.
“How are we going to tell them?” he asked finally.
She shifted the leashes so they rested more comfortably in her hands. “Tell who what?”
“Tell the boys that the dogs have to go back to the breeder,” he said.
Um, that was not happening. No takesie backsies when you give puppies to a couple of eight-year-old boys.
“Gavin, that’s not how this works. You gave the boys a gift. It was a ridiculous gift. Now we have to make it work.”
