Page 51 of The Ex Next Door
“Yeah. Not at first, but yeah…now we are.”
“Got to be honest, I thought you were going to date and have fun. Free and easy. I thought that’s why we broke up. You were tired of married life.”
He cleared his throat. “I guess I got it out of my system. At heart, I’m a one-woman man. You know that better than anyone.”
“Well, you don’t need my approval but thank you for letting me know,” Amy said. “I’ve got to go. I’m getting ready for work.”
“Ames, wait.” He paused. “You’ll meet her, too. I want you to get along. Who knows, maybe this will work out long term.”
“Like we did?” Amy couldn’t hold back the bite behind the words.
“I don’t know why we didn’t work. But I think you’ll like her because she’s a lot like you. A teacher, actually. Ironic, huh? I guess I have a type.”
“What’s her name? How old is she?”
“Her name is Shannon. She’s twenty-five. No kids of her own.”
But plenty of time to have them.
“I trustyou, Rob. You are in charge of our children, not the woman you’re dating.”
“Got it.”
Amy hung up with Rob and got ready in a daze. Rob was right. She always knew it would come to this, but she thought she might have a little more time. So, Rob had someone new in his life. Funny how men just sort of plowed on through relationships, on to the next, without any fear of getting hurt.
And what about you?
Weren’t you just making out with your ex-boyfriend?
“Whoa,” Lou said, when Amy emerged. “Texas, lock up your sons!”
“You look pretty, Mommy.” Naomi smiled up from her book.
“I love those dangly earrings,” Moonbeam said.
David just stared at her and didn’t say a word, which she interpreted as tacit approval.
She kissed both David and Naomi. “Don’t wait up for me. It’s a late shift tonight, but I’ll see you in the morning and we’ll get doughnuts if you want.”
Outside, Declan leaned against his truck and waved through the opened screen door at them. “Ready?”
Amy walked over and climbed in the passenger side for the short drive to the boardwalk and pier. It was calm and cool, a light rain earlier having lowered the temps to make the summer night bearable.
She only noticed how quiet she’d been when Declan poked her.
“Hey. You okay?”
“Huh? Yeah, I’m fine.” A light breeze blew some of her hair out of its tight hold and she tucked it behind her ear.
“You don’t seem fine.”
“Just thinking.”
“About?”
“The kids are being introduced to someone new this weekend. Rob’s new girlfriend.”
Declan whistled. “The first time, huh? And are you okay with this?”
