“Oh, relax,” I say. “We’re more than halfway through the game. You’re clearly going to win. Besides, you get the highest salary card in real life.” I flash a grin his way. “But I’m still going to enjoy every single payday from here on out.”
I turn to Cole. “Your turn, bud.”
He spins. “Six.” He moves his blue van and reads the space aloud.
We’re in New York for the weekend for Megan’s birthday. We all went out last night, and Cole slept over at Jensen’s parents’ house. Tomorrow we’re going to my grandparents’ house for dinner, then we head to Hawaii on Monday morning for Cole’s spring break.
We’ve been living mostly in Chicago, letting Cole finish out the school year before we make any final decisions about where we want to be permanently.
Sherry’s kitchen remodel wrapped up in January, so I was traveling quite a bit right after we got guardianship of Cole. Things have settled now. Sherry wanted me for another big project, but I gave it to Sabrina. For the moment, I’ve stepped away from work.
It wasn’t an easy decision, but Cole needs us, and I wanted to be more present for him.
I’m still playing around with the idea of starting my own company someday, but until we know where we’re going to live, it’s on the back burner. Matt immediately offered to fund it, of course he did. Technically it’s my money now too, but it’s not the same. If I do move forward, it’s something I really want to do on my own. For me.
He suggested he and Leo invest as silent partners instead. I told him I’d think about it.
Matt takes his turn, spins, and moves his van seven spaces.
He’s never loved board games, but Cole does, and so do I. Matt’s the one who’s made it a weekly thing. Every Thursday he leaves work early, picks up dinner, and brings it home. After we eat, we head to the game room for a night of laughter, trash talk, and getting our asses handed to us by him.
He does it just for us. Because he’d rather be doing something he doesn’t like with the people he loves than doing something he loves without us.
That’s just the kind of man he is.
AndGod,I love him.
I never thought something this simple could make me feel whole.
But it does.
“Babe,” Matt’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “Your turn.”
I spin again and move my van four spaces. “I’ve got another baby girl,” I say, glancing at Matt with a smile.
“Jesus. You’ve got like four fucking kids.”
“Matt!” I scold.
“That’s another ice-cream,” Cole says casually.
I check my watch. “Cole, buddy, it’s getting late. You’ll have to get to bed as soon as we finish, alright?”
“Oh, come onnnn, Jordan. Don’t be that kind of mom,” he teases.
I flinch, caught off guard.
Don’t be that kind of mom.
My eyes sting, and I blink quickly, looking away.
“Shit,” I say, as coolly as I can. “I’ve got something in my eye.”
I rub at it, trying to convince even myself that it’s true.
It’s no use. I’m three seconds from tears. “Excuse me,” I say softly. “I’ll be right back.”
I push up from the table and head for our bedroom, passing two different bathrooms along the way.
