Page 108 of Infatuated as They Come
“I leave for a few months and you guys go galivanting all over the park, huh?” We had made it to that spot near the trees, where the grass was too thick to be running around in it, with nothing but a chipped log to warn people off. My eyes scanned the area, trying to find that fiery red hair before Caleb ran off too far. “Caleb? You out here? You know you’re—What the hell?” Something hard and plastic hit my face, a soft thud in the air as whatever it was fell to my feet.
“Oh, it’s you, Sawyer!” Caleb was running at me, snatching a little ball from the ground. “Are you moving back now?”
“You’re not supposed to play here,” I said, picking him up and putting him on the other side of the log. “Stay on that side. Your mom’s probably freaking out.”
“Are you moving back?” Caleb asked again.
“Did you get tired of New York City?” Summer said, voice all bright and her little hands tugging at the sleeve of my blazer. “Where’s Holly? Is she your wife now?”
“I wish,” I said. That sounded nice. She’d be my wife and I’d be her husband and we’d move somewhere far, far away where money didn’t matter and her dad didn’t hate me and love was more than enough.
“Maybe soon, right?” Summer said, voice hopeful.
“Yeah, maybe,” I murmured. “Soon sounds real nice…”
I guided them over to the washing building, already spotting Lindseypushing her hands through her red hair. There was a look of defeat on her face and when her eyes found mine, I could literally see her let out a huge sigh of relief.
“You two! Always running off! I turn around for five seconds!” she cried out as she ran over to us. And then she glared at me. “And what are you doing here?”
“I don’t know,” I said, not really sure what the hell I was doing anymore. “Was supposed to go meet my girlfriend and now… I’m here.”
“I see,” she said before looking down at Caleb and Summer. “Thank you for finding these two. They haven’t been able to quit their bad habit ofgoing to places they shouldn’t be going.”
“Oops,” Summer said with a sheepish giggle.
“I guess they learned that from you.” Lindsey crossed her arms over her chest. “Seriously, what are you doing here? You’re all dressed up too.”
“I came here after some… stuff happened,” I muttered. “You think staying in a mansion would be nice, but I promise you it’s not.”
“Can we go see Holly’s mansion?” Summer asked, moving over to her mom and yanking at her shirt. “Can we?”
“It’s not as fun as it sounds,” I warned her.
Lindsey nodded behind her. “Come to mine and we’ll talk. It looks like you need it.”
It was a short walk to Lindsey’s place and my eyes lingered on my old home for a little too long. There it was. Small and worn out and cramped. For a long time, it was all I had ever known, and it still felt like right where I belonged. I could feel and taste relief as I entered Lindsey’s trailer, the small space feeling like heaven after dealing with the high ceilings and big rooms in Holly’s place.
“You two go play,” Lindsey said to the kids, pointing towards the hallway. “No tennis inside, though.” They groaned but ran off down the hallway, leaving me and Lindsey alone. “I didn’t think I’d ever see your face around here again.”
“Is it weird that I miss being here so much?” I asked as I leaned up against the kitchen counter. My eyes scanned the rest of the space: the little TVand the tiny Christmas tree in the corner and the five presents under it.
“Your fancy New York City apartment isn’t doing it for you? We can swap.”
“I love it there. I love living with Holly.”
“But?”
“It’s just that being back at her place hasn’t exactly been fun. Like I said, staying in a big ass mansion is actually a pretty miserable experience,” I said. “She really wanted me there for Christmas. It’s our first one together and she just wants it to be special. And it is. I mean, she’s making it special, and her mom’s been real nice. She always is. But her dad… He’s never gonna be happy with me being his daughter’s boyfriend.”
“You probably feel like you’re walking on eggshells over there.”
My brows raised. “Yeah, pretty much. But it’s not just that. There’s been a lot going on these last few months. With me and her and me working too much and me making her feel all alone. She doesn’t deserve to feel that way.”
“Then you really shouldn’t be here with me if you’re meant to be with her. I promise you that’ll make her feel lonelier.”
“I was about to drive over and see her.” My hands scraped over my face, and when I moved them, my eyes found the clock. I’d have to leave soon. “I gotta go to the country club in a minute.”
She snorted. “Country club?”
