Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94639 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94639 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
I nod, not able to speak. I’ll only lose it again.
“I better get going. I have to get situated. I came straight over here…”
Another nod. The lump in my throat is so big, it’s hard to breathe.
Landon bends slightly and kisses my forehead. “Bye, beautiful.”
“Oh, Harper, you’re crying,” Bridget points out, grabbing a tissue from the end table and handing it to me.
“Sorry, I don’t know what came over me. Just a rough day.” I take a deep breath, trying to compose myself.
“Have you tried to contact him since you and Richard split up?”
“No way.” I scoff. “I’ve looked him up on social media a few times. He’s the playboy of all playboys.” I roll my eyes, remembering all the pictures of him partying with various women. After the way he was with me when we dated, I thought for sure he would move on and have a family. But he did the opposite. Dating various women over the years, but never long enough to ever settle down.
“Well, Simon was a playboy,” Bridget says with a laugh.
“That’s only because I was getting it out of my system for when I would meet you,” Simon adds in his hella sexy British accent as he walks into the living room holding bags of takeout.
“I was going to say that.” Bridget grins at her husband with hearts in her eyes. “Maybe this guy… what’s his name? Landon?”
“Yeah.” I nod. “Landon Maxwell.”
“The baseball player?” Simon interrupts.
“Yeah.” There aren’t many people who don’t know who Landon Maxwell is, especially since the Reds won the World Series last season. Everyone thought Landon would renew his contract, but once there was speculation of him being traded, he came out and said his arm is in bad shape and has decided to retire.
“Like I was saying,” Bridget says, giving her husband a look I can’t quite decipher. “Maybe he’s just waiting for you…”
“It’s been over twelve years,” I deadpan. “I’ve been married, divorced, have two kids, and a mom body.” I roll my eyes. “Go ahead and Google his name. His type is young and busty, not moms with stretchmarks on carpool duty.”
“Hmm… well, I happen to think you’re hot,” Bridget says, standing and walking over to the kitchen table. “Isn’t she, Simon?”
Simon laughs. “I only have eyes for my wife.” He pulls her into his arms and kisses her. Wanting to give them a moment, I excuse myself to the kitchen to grab some plates and silverware and then go outside to call the boys in. They’re both sweaty and dirty, so I have them get washed up before they come to the table.
Once everyone is seated, we all dig in. The boys talk about a new video game Brendan just got. Ella tells everyone about her upcoming gymnastics competition, and the twins talk and laugh happily amongst themselves.
“I was talking to Calliope today,” Bridget says, taking a bite of her fried rice.
“Is she in town?” Calliope is a good friend of Simon and Bridget’s. She owns a yoga studio downtown that Bridget likes to drag me to a few times a week. Because she and her husband love to travel, and she no longer teaches classes, I’ve only met her a handful of times.
“No,” Bridget says. “On the phone.”
Trying to multitask—something I’m not very good at—I’m looking at Bridget while I reach for my glass of wine. Of course, my fingers slip and the glass topples over. Simon throws a towel my way as everyone else lifts their plates. Yes, he has a towel on standby because there aren’t many meals that go by without me spilling or knocking something over.
“Shoot! Sorry!” I wipe up the spilled liquid. Once the table is dry, everyone sets their plates back down in unison.
After I throw the towel into the washer, I sit back down, this time with water. “So, what were you saying?” I sigh, done with today.
Bridget laughs, and I’m thankful to have friends who love my clumsy ass. “I was saying that Calliope is going on this weekend spa getaway.” She beams. “Can you imagine two full days and nights of—”
“Mom, can I have more chicken?” Brendan interrupts.
Bridget forks some onto his plate then continues. “Two full days and nights of no kids. Massages every day. Manis, pedis—”
“Mommy,” Ella interrupts, and Simon chuckles. “I need more red sauce, please.”
I reach for it, but Simon stops me. “I’ll give it to her.” He winks playfully and Bridget cracks up.
“Two days of eating without being interrupted,” Bridget quickly says, giving our children a playful glare. “We need to make this happen.”
“You guys should do it,” Simon says, handing the twins each another piece of chicken.
“Before I make any plans to go on vacation, I need to secure a job.” I graduated with my Bachelor’s in Art Education a couple months ago and now I’m trying to find a job at one of the local schools.