Page 50 of Push

“Nothing.”

“So… you guys… allknow…?”

Zach’s beaming face turned serious. “Yeah, mate. We all know. Eden, uh… I love that schemer to bits, but she may have been the reason the ad for the yard sale picked up a bit of steam.” He threw me an apologetic look. “How are you holding up?”

My surprise shot my eyebrows into my hair. I probably didn’t deserve anyone to care about how I was doing, but he was one of the few people who’d asked. “Yeah, I’m fine, man.”

“Fine…or…?”

“I mean…” I shrugged. “I made a choice that destroyed my life. I’m as good as I can be after that happens, I guess.”

“The most important thing is to focus on what’s best for Noah.” He nodded at the boys rolling around on the blanket.“Coming today is a good step. You’ll have other chances too. What’s your plan for when Gwen goes back to work?”

“What do you mean?”

“Legal work is a lot of long hours and sacrifices.” His authoritative tone suggested he knew all about it. “You’ll have to step up unless you have a team to help share the load. You got a big family?”

I shook my head. “Gwen and I are pretty much flying solo on this parenting gig.”

Zach’s dark brows furrowed. “Friends?”

“They’re in a different spot in their life right now.”

Were Ian and I even still friends?

I was angry with him about the party, and he was distant. Our lifelong friendship had been reduced to raising our chins to acknowledge each other in the corridors at the clinic, and nothing more.

Trouble was bubbling under the surface. Was the problem him…or me?

We’d probably punch it out at some point. Resorting to fists was a tried and tested method of clearing the air between us. Well, I punched at about a quarter of my full strength to give the poor guy a chance. Once, when we were about sixteen, he’d crash-tackled me to the ground and landed a few decent hits on me. Christ, what had that argument been over?

Gwen.

Ian had wanted to ask her to the school dance. Over my dead body. She’d just started letting me hold her hand. I’d strode to the bus stop like a peacock with my chest puffed out when everyone gawked at the sight of her fingers woven with mine. One of my best days ever.

Fuck Ian.

The thought hit me like a freight train. I sucked in a breath. We’d been friends for over twenty years, but if we weren’t locked into the clinic together, would we still be friends now?

The answer roared in my brain.No.

Zach’s hand clasped my shoulder. “You okay, mate?”

“Yeah.” I had to be okay. I was good ol’ reliable Toby. Nothing was ever wrong with me. “All good, man. Just…you know…lots going on.”

“You want to talk about it? I don’t want to add any more fuel to the flames.” He grimaced. “But if you’ve got time tonight once you drop Noah home, let’s catch up for a beer or two.”

“Beer, um…” I was sticking to my vow—no more alcohol.

“Soda? Juice? I also make a mean milkshake.”

I laughed. “By whose rating?”

“Myveryparticular three-year-old’s. So, what do you say?”

“You’d really want to hang out? Withme?”

“Yeah. I need to make sure you come back, right?” He laughed. “I’m tired of being Token Dad.”

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