Page 11 of A Really Bad Idea

“That’s my Jordan. He’s the only good thing that came out of my marriage,” he declares as his hands slide into the side pockets of his pants. “Sometimes, the first time around isn’t right. Hoping I have better luck the second time.” He makes this comment like his second-time prospect is standing before him.

My smile is big, but I feel this heavy pit in my stomach.

While I’d like to remarry someday, the thought of falling in love again seems unattainable and almost … daunting. I enjoyed being married, and while our relationship might have been a bit whimsical, it was the best time in my life.

Garret walked away from his marriage with a beautiful boy. A testament to a love he once held dear, and me, well, all I walked away with was a fancy apartment. Sure, the view is exquisite, and it’s a prime piece of real estate, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t fill the void in my heart.

Mom seems to mistake my smile for some kind of connection between Garret and me because she lets go of my arm and steps to the side. “I’ll leave you two to catch up.” In a blink, she’s across the yard and in a circle of conversation with her friends.

I lean back on my heels and rub my hands together. “So … Jordan. He’s a good kid?”

“The best. He’s my buddy. I get him every other weekend, which is cool because it’s just us boys bonding,” he states.

“That’s awesome. My dad and Brian were like that—buddies who did everything together. They still golf together every week. You must hate it when Jordan’s back at his mom’s.”

Garret runs a hand along his chest as he puffs it out. “Nah. It’s great. I can go out with friends, sleep in, catch up on work. It’s a perfect scenario.”

My brows knit together in confusion as I try to understand his positive outlook on seeing his son every other weekend. I can’t imagine having a child and not being able to see him or her every day. “But you probably wish you had him all the time.”

“Perfect,” he reiterates. “Women love it. They get my undivided attention without my kid hanging around. For example, if I wanted to ask a hot nurse over to my place for a sleepover, I can. You busy tonight?”

Mouth agape, I try to form a response, but the words don’t come to me. I smack my lips together as he flashes me a smile.

“Let me explain,” he starts, holding out his palm. “Kids are great, but they’re a pain in the ass. I don’t have to do homework, get him up for school, take him to the doctor. I pretty much just get to do fun stuff with him and leave all the parenting headaches to my ex. And, trust me, four days a month is plenty. So, about tonight? I have a hot tub in need of a hot pair of legs to climb into it.”

My hands drift to my stomach, and I sense my face reddening at the smug smile on Garret’s face. My jaw is clenched, and my adrenaline spikes. I open my mouth and raise a finger, ready to tell him what I think he can do with his hot tub when someone calls my name.

“Meadow!”

I turn to see Christian at my side as he snakes a protective arm around me faster than a piranha eats its prey.

Ever the gentleman, he extends his other hand to Garret, but there is no mistaking the tic in his jaw. “Hey, buddy. How are you? Can I steal her? We have a lot of office stuff to go over.”

As Garret’s eyes travel to their joined hands, I can almost feel how tight Christian must be squeezing his.

Without giving Garret a chance to respond, he steers me away. His firm hand on my waist, he points me toward the back of the yard, away from my parents and their guests. We walk into the garden where Beth keeps a finely manicured oasis of tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths.

“Breathe,” he says, sensing my tension levels have risen.

I do as he said by closing my eyes and inhaling the fragrant perfume of the nearby crimson roses in full bloom. When I open my eyes, it’s with an exhale of released tension, and I look into his dark green irises with flecks of honey sprinkled throughout. They’re striking against Christian’s naturally bronzed skin.

I ruffle his thick brown mane. “Aren’t you my knight in shining armor?”

He releases his hold on me, and my body chills despite the afternoon sun.

“If I saved anyone, it’s Garret. You were about to tear into that guy,” he says.

“How did you know?”

He rubs a thumb down my forehead, toward the center of my eyebrows. “You get a little crinkle right here when you’re mad. Sometimes, you pout your mouth, too. It’s adorable actually.” I make that crinkle face at him, so he adds, “Unless it’s aimed at me. Knight in shining armor, remember?”

“Then, thankfully—for his sake—you were here,” I joke as my mind catches on to the fact that Christian is here. At my brother’s house. At the party my mother threw. I hit him in the arm, hard, and feel a sting in my fist. Not expecting it, he falls backward slightly as I scold him, “You knew my mom was doing this and said nothing?”

He’s rubbing his arm and smiling at me, leaving small creases around his eyes. “I didn’t know about it until last night at the game. My parents will be here soon. They were invited, too.”

Makes sense. Beth said they invited four of my parents’ closest friends to the party.

“Great. Now, I’ll have both of my bosses here to witness Gail Duvane’s New Jersey edition of The Bachelorette.” I look back at the yard with a sour stare.