Page 80 of The Ex Next Door
“Sure. I’d compliment your form.” Dan chuckled.
“Also, um, Amy? She and I… We’re seeing each other again. If there’s something I’ve learned the hard way, it’s that you don’t turn your back on a second chance. And she’s giving me one.”
“I always liked Amy.”
“Of all the things you taught me, Dad, loving your wife was probably the most important. Finn and I both had the best example of how to be a good husband and father. I admit I didn’t always want to be just like you, but I’ve accepted that I am. And I’m lucky.”
“Hang on a second,” his father said, not exactly what Declan had expected him to say.
A moment later, his mother was back on the phone again. “Honey, what did you say to your father? He’s crying.”
Declan laughed, wiping one of his eyes with the back of his hand.
“Nothing but good things, Ma. Nothing but good things. I’m sure he’ll explain. Tell him I’ll talk to him later. Anyway, just give him this message—me, too.”
With that, Declan hung up and went to find his planner. It was tucked away in the drawer of his nightstand, and hehadn’t looked at it for a while. But now it was time to plan the next few months and how he would make the move from bartender back to teacher and coach.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The summer temperatures had turned outside into a sauna, so two days later, Amy and Bianca made the boys stay inside on their playdate. They were playing video games on the console in Matthew’s room. Naomi had decided to spend the afternoon with Mom and Lou at the garden center.
“Is Mark doing any better after the scrimmage?” Amy tentatively asked.
She’d almost been afraid to bring it up because the ordeal had so upset Bianca.
“Much better,” Bianca said, pouring iced tea from a pitcher. “That night, he called and apologized to the coach. Believe me, he won’t make that mistake again. He’s letting tensions at work get the better of his temper.”
“Well, at least he showed up. I have to give him credit there. Rob hasn’t made it to a practice yet. I can’t help but think that David is feeling the lack of support.”
“At least he has Declan.” Bianca offered Amy a glass of sweet tea.
“Yeah, but as you said, Declan isn’t his father.”
“I’m sorry I said that because Declan’s a great guy.” She grinned and cocked her head. “I see how well the two of you are getting along. Is it weird rekindling a love affair with your high school boyfriend?”
“Not as weird as you might think.” Amy chuckled. “I suppose I never had one of those ‘what was I thinking’ moments when it came to him. It was more like, ‘Where have you been all this time?’”
“Yeah, well, we didn’t all have gorgeous jocks as our high school boyfriends.”
Amy frowned. “I know it sounds fun, but in those days he was very committed to the sport. More committed than he was to me. The yearbook photos of our glory days don’t tell the whole story. Behind the scenes I was lonely a lot of the time. But that’s how it had to be then. He’s different now.”
“How did the kids take the news about you two?”
Amy had shared the news of David hiding at the park when he’d heard about Rob’s girlfriend.
“Well, because they reacted so negatively to Shannon, we…decided to wait.”
Actually, she had pretty much decided, without consulting Declan.
“And Declan… He’s okay with that, being your kept man? Your dirty little secret?” She tossed her hair as if this was funny, or sexy, or titillating somehow.
A streak of pure hot fury coursed through Amy, and she had to bite her tongue from saying worse. “He’s not my—you know what? Declan is a grown-up, and he gets it. His first concern is the kids, too.”
“Sorry. Yeah, that wasn’t funny or cute.” Bianca lowered her head. “Not many guys would be willing to stay in the background. I was just thinking of Mark but we both know he’s a hothead.”
“He doesn’t ever take it out on you or the kids, does he?”
Not that Amy had ever seen any evidence, but those types of matters tended to stay hidden. It would be wrong not to at least ask.
