Page 89 of The Ex Next Door
“Delicious.” She wouldn’t have thought they belonged in a stir-fry before today.
They washed the dishes together, Declan rinsing, Amy stacking. They already had their routines, and to Amy they were as comforting as melted butter on a cinnamon roll.
Rob texted after lunch, letting her know they were on theirway. Knowing it would be a week or more before they could be like this again, Amy squeezed every last moment of togetherness. She insisted on sitting side by side on the couch as they watched old reruns ofFriends. To them, it was feel-good comfort. They’d both pretty much grown up watching it as kids and it was funny to know the actors were now so much older than on the show. In fact, Amy and Declan were now the age of the characters.
“I should get going,” Declan said, lifting her hand to brush a kiss across her knuckles. “They’ll be back any minute.”
“Don’t go,” Amy said, reaching for his arm as he moved to get up.
He turned. “I thought we—”
“We’re not doing anything wrong. You can be over here with me in the middle of the day watching TV or, you know, whatever.” She smiled.
“Yeah, well, we spent an entire weekend doing whatever.”
“I’m not hiding you. What we have is nothing to be ashamed of.”
“I know, sweetheart. Look, I’m a big boy. It’s about the kids. We don’t have to shove it in their faces that I’m in love with their mother and shagging her every chance I get.”
“Not that,” she said with an eye roll. “We don’t have to make that obvious, but I would think TV-watching together is allowable. Holding hands. Etcetera. And so forth.”
“Whatever you say.” He tugged her by the waist and pulled her into his arms for a kiss.
The doorbell rang just as they were breaking apart.
“Here we go,” Amy said, squaring her shoulders. “United front.”
Naomi’s smiling upturned face greeted her. “How’s Fern? She probably missed me. I’m going to go give her a drink of water.”
Naomi rushed inside and down the hallway.
“Hey, Rob.” Declan came up from behind Amy and offered his hand. “Declan Sheridan.”
“Oh, hey.” Rob shook Declan’s hand. “Good to meet you. Heard a lot about you. Amy, can I talk to you outside for a minute?”
“Um, sure.” She threw a look at Declan, hoping he’d distract the kids.
Rob probably wanted to complain about something or the other if he wanted to talk outside. Maybe he didn’t like that he’d found Declan making himself at home, but hey, this was her house now.
“Why don’t we throw the ball around outside?” Declan suggested, motioning to their backyard.
“I’ll go get my glove.” David went toward the bedroom.
Amy followed Rob outside. “What’s up?”
Far from tearing into her, Rob dragged a hand through his hair and awkwardly shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
“I’m… Okay, this is hard. Just bear with me. I have something to say.”
Amy crossed her arms in an automatically defensive position. “Go ahead, but if this is about Declan—”
“No, it’s not. This is about you and me.”
“You andme?”
“Look. I made a mistake, Amy. I want another chance. Let’s get back together, make a home again for the kids.”
For a moment, Amy couldn’t take in a breath. It was too cruel to suggest this now. They’dsoldtheir home, which now belonged to another family.
