Page 94 of Hard To Leave

Chapter 30

Chloe

“So let me see the text,”Carly said, dropping into the couch next to me.

I drew my legs up to my chest and turned my phone over so she could read the screen.

Everything is going well. Stopping for ice-cream before I bring him back.

“That’s it?” she asked, as a taped episode of theBacheloretteplayed on the TV.

“Yes.” I sighed, keeping my gaze fixed on the trashy reality show as two men cried over this season’s bachelorette. “That and the message he sent me last night asking if he could pick Tanner up from school.”

I turned my attention back to the show as one man professed his love while the other poor guy begged not to be sent home. She was doing a horrible job at figuring out what to say. She squirmed in her seat, looking uncomfortable, and I wanted to scream at her to make up her damn mind.

There was no way she was in love with both contestants. Yes, you could love two men, but not the same, and she had to choose.

Carly grabbed the remote out of my hand when I started yelling at the TV and pressed the off button. I was tempted to shove her ass off the couch. “What the hell?”

She folded her arms across her chest. “So let me get this straight. You haven’t spoken since he found out about Brogan. You have left numerous messages, all of which have been ignored. Then he sends you a text out of the blue, asking if he can pick Tanner up from school…and you said yes?”

I kicked my feet up on the coffee table, feeling defeated. “That pretty much sums it up.”

Her gentle hands rubbed along my back. She’s been so concerned about me that she hasn’t left my side all week. My days have consisted of trying to hold it all together. I’ve been in such a funk, that other than the sun rising and setting at the end of each day, everything else has been a blur. “Well, look at this way,” she offered. “At least he’s doing right by Tanner.”

I threw my head back and groaned. As the days passed, my patience was slipping. I should’ve been happy that he was spending time with Tanner, but it didn’t stop me from wondering when he would quit avoiding me.

“I just want the chance to talk to him. If you could have seen how hurt he was when he found out about Brogan…”

Carly walked over to the window and peeked through the blinds at the sound of a car pulling up in the driveway. “Well, my, my, my. It looks like you might get your chance to talk to him after all.”

My heart flipped over inside my chest, and I darted across the room and looked over her shoulder. He stepped out of the car, and I raced to the door to meet him.

He pressed his lips together as he walked up to my front porch. His arm was hanging along Tanner’s shoulders, and I couldn’t help but think of how right that was.

He belonged with us. He was ours, and I would fight to make him see that.

“Hi, guys,” I greeted them both, trying to keep my voice even when I was dying inside.

He glanced over my shoulder to the shadow standing behind me. I saw the panic in his eyes quickly disappear when he realized it was Carly. I took the look of relief as a positive sign.

Tanner rewarded me with a slow smile. The first real one I’ve seen in days. He stood at Jack’s side, clutching his backpack. He seemed to be in a better mood than when I sent him off to school this morning. Whatever Jack had said to him seemed to help.

Carly walked over and pulled on Tanner’s hand. “Why don’t you and I go out back and start on your homework. I’m sure your mom and Jack have a few things to talk about.”

Tanner’s smile fell. He looked reluctant to leave. Jack placed his hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “You can call me anytime.”

Everything about this goodbye felt wrong. From the flat tone of his voice to his defeated sigh.

“Will you still come to my first game?” Tanner asked with hope filling his eyes.

Jack looked away, trying to hide how much he wrestled with that question. I stared down at my wood floor and tried to hide how nervous I was about what that answer would be.

My only hope was that whatever relationship they had built would survive. I could live with my own pain and work through the guilt, but the last thing I wanted was to see my son suffer anymore.

“I can’t make any promises, bud.” He attempted to reassure him. “But I’ll call you as it gets closer and let you know. Does that sound fair?”

“Okay. But I really want you there. I’ll understand if you can’t come though.”

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