I shake my head, willing the vision to fade. It sometimes pops up like this, at random times. It is heartbreaking, and I don’t quite understand it.
Abby and Baxter yap at the dog, and its owner pulls at its leash, trying to avoid a confrontation. Likewise, I pull at the dogs, and veer left. “Settle down,” I scoff. “Seriously, it’s just a dog, guys. Have you never seen another dog before.”
Baxter shoots me ‘the look’. It’s almost as if he’s saying,Stop screaming at us, Mommy.
I blow out a breath. “Well, you two stop being little wankers, and I’ll stop screaming at you.”
When I get back to the cottage, Jacob is sitting out on the porch, his guitar on his lap, his long legs stretched out, a coffee at his side. He shoots me a wink as I step onto the porch, and I’m immediately brought back to last night’s events. It was just a little slip — won’t happen again. “How was the walk?”
I smile down at him. “Good. The puppies liked it.”
Abby walks up to him, eager for a little Jacob attention. He ruffles her head. “Why don’t you sit for a second. I can get you a drink.”
I stare at him for a beat. He knows I want him out of my sight.
“A margarita?”
I smile. Well, it’s early but that does sound pretty good. “What’s your plan, Jacob?”
“What?” he says with a clueless expression. “Just trying to be friendly.”
“We’re going through a divorce, Jacob. We don’t need to be friendly.” I shake my head. “That just makes everything more complicated.”
“Well, it didn’t seem too complicated last night,” he teases. “You were enjoying yourself quite a a lot.”
I blow out a long breath and take a seat in the wicker arm chair across from him. The man needs to be put in his place. “Listen, I was just horny, okay? I haven’t had action in forever, and I just wanted to get off, and so, thanks for that. But it meant nothing.” As soon as I say the words, I regret them. I really don’t want to hurt him.
He stares down at his feet.
“Seriously, why are you still around, Jacob? Why aren't you out with some hot young thing? Other guys your age would kill for this opportunity.”
His face falls. “I don’t want some hot young thing,” he tells me. “I wantyou.”
We keep going around in circles. I want him too. I’ll always want him. He looks so delicious sitting there with his messy morning hair, sexy beard, and guitar.
I stand to leave. “You know the rules,” I remind him. “No playing that thing in front of me.”
He smiles playfully. “I know you can’t resist me when I play,” he teases as he starts to strum.
I get off the porch as fast as I can.
It’s afternoon and Jacob is still sitting on the porch, enjoying the almost-summer weather. He’s put away the guitar and is reading his book.
I’ve been wanting to hang outside too and watch the water, but he seems to be planning to sit there all day. I make a pitcher of lemonade and decide that sitting next to him on the porch won’t be the end of the world.
He smiles as I pour us both glasses. Baxter is sitting at my feet and Abby is sitting at his. As much as I don’t want to admit it, it’s kind of a sweet picture.
“So I guess you’re not dating anyone right now,” he says. “You know… since you’re not getting any action.”
He’s so damn nosy. “Well, no, not at the moment. I like my solitude.”
He seems pleased by my response. “Me neither… no time.”
I turn to him. “Well, you should make the time, Jacob. You need to move on.”
He shakes his head. “Yeah… you keep saying, but God, last night… Corrie. We still have so much passion.”
“Uh… change of subject, please.” The last thing I need is to be brought back to last night.
