Page 43 of Third Time's the Charm

“What are you saying?” The color drained from his face.

“I don’t know if I want kids. I think I might. And I think that means you and I shouldn’t get married.”

Chapter 14

The parrot, the python, and the iguana

Jack

“Hey Jack.” A tall blonde with long hair, big blue eyes and full red lips smiled down at me.

We just got back from our road trip and Riley and I hit the bar before heading home. “Hey Marissa.” She lived in our building and we ran into her at the bar from time to time.

She ran her finger over the table. “Good trip?”

“Not bad.”

Riley made eyes at me and then stared into his beer.

Well shit. That meant Marissa was flirting with me. And sure enough she smiled and dropped her shoulder. All flirty and attention-like. I was fucking rusty at this shit.

“What are you boys up to tonight?” She bit her lip.

Crap.

“Well it’s been a long day, so probably this beer, a shower, and my pillow.”

Riley laughed.

Marissa’s gaze moved over me. “Well, if you ever want company, you know where to find me.” She lingered for another moment before sauntering off to a table with another blonde siren.

“Holy shit, go get laid!” Riley whispered.

But I didn’t want to get laid. Okay, that’s a lie. I totally wanted to get laid. Just...not like that. I didn’t know her. I didn’tfeelthings for her. Some guys could do that. Just go at it with anyone. But I was pretty sure I was forever changed at the age of eighteen when I fell for Berlin. She programmed my dick and brain at the same time.

“I’m not ready.”

“You’re going to have to get back out there if you really want to move on.”

“And I will. When I’m ready. I’m still processing.”

Riley leaned back and sucked down some beer. “Fine. I’ll leave you alone for now. But soon.”

Yeah, yeah. Soon he’d be hounding me to date and flirt and meet someone new. I rubbed my chest. “It still feels like cheating.”

Riley groaned. “She’s engaged to another man. She doesn’t feel like it’s cheating.”

Knife. Heart. Twisted. “What matters is howIfeel. I’m not ready.”

Marissa waved my way as we left, but I didn’t invite her to join me. Instead I did just as I said. I showered and passed out. The next day I went to the rink and acted like a head coach. I walked a fine line between disappearing into work and figuring my life out. The last year or two when I was struggling, I’d road-trip to Tampa and hangout with Erik.

But instead I drove south to Mistletoe Key. Maybe I liked talking to Ma. Or maybe it helped me move on because I was there, where Berlin and I spent part of our marriage. It was like I was slowly saying goodbye to the spot where we kissed, and the window we covered in sticky notes with compliments, or the place I tripped and fell into an entire table of diners.

Goodbye. So long. Farewell.

At least I wasn’t avoiding the entire island anymore.

And it gave me an idea. I always let Berlin come up with the ideas. Maybe it was time I found my own trouble to get into.

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