Page 42 of My Hotshot

I grinned. “Still more interesting than my filing cabinet full of overdue bills and old birthday cards.”

He laughed, then asked, “So what did you do when you left Enid?”

I leaned back against the counter and folded my arms. “Not a whole lot at first. I went to OCU. The first couple of months were good. I was making friends, enjoying being on my own… then I met Lee.”

His expression didn’t change, but I could tell he was listening harder.

“We met at a frat party. Went on a few dates. He seemed like a nice guy. Then, boom—I was pregnant.”

Duane blinked, but still didn’t react much. I appreciated that more than I could say.

“We got married the summer between freshman and sophomore year. Lottie was born in August. I somehow managed to finish college.”

“Damn,” he muttered, taking a slow sip of his beer. “That’s a lot all at once.”

I nodded. “Yeah. Lee’s mom, Maggie, was amazing. She helped with Lottie, watched her while I was in class, and gave me whatever support she could.”

He tilted his head. “Lee couldn’t watch her while you were in school?”

I hesitated. “He was still in school too.”

Duane didn’t look convinced.

“Only had classes three days a week,” I admitted. “Still… he couldn’t be bothered.”

Duane sat forward. “I would’ve dropped out and taken care of our kid while you got your degree.”

My heart clenched a little at the simplicity of his words. Like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“Well, Lee didn’t think like you,” I said softly.

Duane snorted. “Clearly. Since he fumbled you.”

Fumbled me. That was putting itverymildly.

“So, what happened after you graduated?”

I let out a long breath. “I found a job. Maggie kept helping with Lottie. Lee struggled to find work, and he wasn’t exactly trying.”

“You’re still sugarcoating it,” Duane said.

I shrugged. “Habit.”

“Don’t protect a man who didn’t protect you.”

That landed harder than I thought it would.

“The only good things I got from Lee were Lottie and Maggie,” I said honestly. “I lost count of how many women he cheated on me with. About two years ago, he got serious with someone named Stephanie. She didn’t want me around. Tried to shove me out of the picture.”

Duane’s jaw tensed. “And?”

“And I wasn’t about to let that happen. Maggie helped me pack up and leave. She wasn’t on board with any of it, either. So I took Lottie and got the hell out.”

He nodded slowly. “Surprising a good woman like Maggie raised someone like Lee.”

I laughed. “Yeah, I always wondered how that happened.”

He gave me a long look then. Not pity. Not judgment. Just… understanding.

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