Page 148 of Mr. Infuriating

“Good, then you won’t mind when I rip it off you.”

Gulp! No, I would not mind that at all.

“Um, yeah…” I mumbled as I awkwardly gestured with my thumb toward the bedrooms. “Let me go pack,” then turned on my heel and made a hasty exit.

I passed Jake in the hall on my way to his room. His eagerness at helping Gabe was palpable as he raised his toy toolbox and proudly proclaimed, “I help!”

I loved how excited he was. The only time he got this animated was when he was going to my mom and dad’s.

“I know, baby. You’re going to be a great helper!”

He scurried away and I had to stop and think,what was I doing?

Oh yeah, packing.

****

Gabe

There was something about seeing Gretchen’s Honda in my rearview mirror as she followed me back to my place that made my chest twinge.

Tonight, it was just going to be the three of us; Britt had reluctantly gone back to Becky’s. She agreed her mom would not be on board with her staying with metwounsanctioned nights. Frankly, I’d been surprised when Becky agreed to lether come last night, but I suspected she was curious about my guests and wanted Brittany to get the scoop and report back.

I knew our daughter was going to give Becky the version that Brittwanted, and I found I didn’t mind; it was good to keep everyone on their toes. But when Gretchen and my time was up, I wouldn’t be offering any explanations about what happened.

Because I’d already told them—she’s just a friend.

But when she pulled to the front of my house, I thought,I should make room for her car in the garage.

That’s when I realized, I might have a problem with our expiration date.

I walked to her car and opened up the rear door, planning on grabbing her bag. But I went to the wrong side of the car, and Jake held out his hands and cried, “Mister Mxchshl!”

“Call me Gabe, buddy,” I said as I unbuckled his car seat and caught him as he jumped into my arms.

“You got him?” Gretchen asked as she pulled the diaper bag, her work satchel, and purse from the other side of the back seat. How the heck did she manage all thatandJake every day?

Single moms were fucking rock stars.

And yes, I’d include Becky in that group. She pissed me off a lot, but I had to admit, she did an amazing job with Brayden and Britt.

“I got him.” I motioned to her loaded down arms. “You need me to grab any of that?”

“Nope. Thank you, though.”

Thenshe went to the trunk and took out the suitcases she’d packed, like she was going to haul everything into the house by herself.

Uh, no. Not on my watch.

Still holding Jake, I followed her to the trunk and took the two handles in one hand.

“I got these.”

Fortunately, she didn’t argue.

They were lighter than I was expecting, and I found myself disappointed about that. It meant she hadn’t packed much because she wasn’t planning on staying long.

She clicked the Honda’s lock and followed me up the porch steps.

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