Page 103 of Single Mom's Guide to Love

At that moment, I feel my cell phone vibrating in my clutch purse. Having an estimated idea of what time it is, I figure it’s Jayce for his nightly call.

“You’re fine. I’m going to step outside and talk to Jayce.”

Logan leans in to kiss my cheek as we go separate ways. I hurry and take out the phone, and luckily my mom has prepared him for an abbreviated goodnight phone call, knowing I wouldn’t be able to talk long.

I step outside onto the terrace as Jayce starts reading from the book. I let the cool air hit me, but love the slight bite against my skin. Sometimes you get a winter like this in Tennessee, when it’s not too cold, but just cool enough to do the trick.

After we say our goodnights, and he tells me to tell Logan goodnight specifically, I put my phone away and start making my way back inside. But just as I’m about to open the door, Ismell the distinct smell of cigarettes, and a whisper from the other side of the terrace.

“I can’t believe he married her!”

“Right? She’s…ugh.”

Now, I’m a proper Southern woman. I’m not one to spread gossip.

But I sure as shit am going to listen to it.

I do my best to inch closer to the whispering voices, but I can only get so far as a row of shrubbery is separating me from them. Though the mask of green plants is allowing me to sit and listen in, I have a distinct feeling they’re talking about me.

And I have a feeling I know whotheyare.

“It can’t be real. I mean, he was doing PR relationships well before her. That’s what I was. She has to be another one of those.”

Yup. That would be Candace. And the other voice sounds like the distinct shrill of Vivian.

“But marriage? Like they full-on got married. Like at the courthouse. They were pictured leaving and everything.”

Good to know Vivian keeps up on the news of the day.

“I didn’t even know he was dating anyone,” Candace says. “I hadn’t heard about him seeing anyone since me. And let’s be real, he fumbled me. I know we were set up by our publicists, but I was ready to sleep with him. And he just wanted to play his stupid game.”

Oh, I’m so glad that didn’t happen…

“I just don’t get it,” Vivian says. “She’s, like, okay looking for a mom. And that’s what I thought when Josh introduced us. But like, with Logan? She’s so…blah.”

Blah! I’ll show her fucking blah…

“Clearly he’s done with models and is now slumming it,” Vivian continues. “Just look at her. She’s old. I mean, what is she, like forty? I didn’t know he was into grandmas.”

I let out a gasp and quickly cover my mouth. How dare she? I’m thirty-six, and I think look damn good for it! Especially since I pushed out a kid. So—and I’d say this to her face if I wasn’t hiding in the bushes—in all disrespect, fuck right the fuck off, Vivian.

Though she does have a point…I am a cougar. I’m lusting over a younger man.

Oh, who am I kidding? I’m in love with him…

“Though, I will say, her dress is pretty?” Candace says, though with the question mark at the end I don’t know if that’s a compliment.

“It’s off the rack,” Vivian says. “And I bet she made him wear that ugly green tuxedo.”

It takes all I have in me to not let out a gasp. How dare she!

My dress is, in fact, designer, though it might be rented because I’ll never wear it again. And I want to chime in that it was his idea to coordinate green and red. And I think he looksveryhandsome.

“I don’t know. I think Logan looks fucking hot,” Candace says. “I don’t care that he’s married. If he said the word I’d fuck him.”

“We all would. He’s Logan Matthews. Which is why it’s a travesty he’s withher.”

I take a deep but silent breath, as I rein in the urge to take off my earrings, jump this fence, and swing both Vivian and Candace around by their extensions.

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