Page 69 of Love At The Shore
Nick offered him a weak smile. “You don’t need to say that.”
Grayson paused, and then gave it another go. “You want a soda?”
Nick shook his head. “I don’t want anything.”
Jenna took a deep breath and smiled at Grayson as she reached them. “Nice job, Grayson.”
“Thanks, Mrs. T,” he said.
He was such a good kid, and a great friend to Nick. Jenna made a mental note to tell Maureen how sweet he’d been after the race.
She waved at Grayson as he headed toward the snack area. Then she joined Nick beside him on the bench. “You did good, bud. Really close. You should feel proud.”
Nick’s face fell. “Can you stop saying that?”
The lump in Jenna’s throat grew threefold. Her next words came out as barely more than a whisper. “I just don’t want you to beat yourself up.”
“Then stop talking about it, okay?” Nick stood and stomped away.
She stared after him at a loss. This was going so much worse than she’d feared. There had to be something she could say or do to fix things. But what?
Her stomach churned like it always did when she felt like she’d lost control of a situation. Seeing her kids hurt was the very worst part of parenting. She’d never get used to it. It brought out the mother bear in her like nothing else
I just need a plan. That’s all.
For once, she couldn’t come up with a course of action. The highest fence in the world wouldn’t take away the pain in Nick’s eyes.
His disappointment didn’t escape Kayla’s notice either. She watched him stalk toward the snack area as she took a seat beside Jenna.
“I’m sorry.” She bit her lip. “I don’t know what happened out there.”
Jenna shook her head. “It’s not your fault,” she said quietly.
This was Lucas’s fault, one hundred percent. Nick had been brimming with confidence until he realized Lucas had broken his promise.
She didn’t want to blame him, but she couldn’t help it.
“I’m surprised Lucas missed it,” Kayla said, as if she could read Jenna’s mind.
Jenna turned to study her expression. “Are you really?”
After all, Kayla had warned her about this very thing.
He’s a sweet guy, for sure. But a family man he is not. He likes his freedom way too much.
Those had been her exact words at the summer concert. And like a fool, Jenna had forgotten all about them.
Not completely, though. Despite the flowers, despite the cozy sunset dinner at Sam’s on the shore, and despite the kindness he’d shown to her kids, she’d been half expecting Lucas to be as casual about his promises as he was about leaving his porch a mess. She just couldn’t help it.
On some level, she’d known this would happen. She simply hadn’t wanted to believe it. When would she learn that she couldn’t rely on anyone else? Had the divorce taught her nothing?
“This time, yes,” Kayla said.
Her lips were pressed together, her expression solemn. Despite her words of warning, she seemed genuinely surprised Lucas hadn’t materialized.
Jenna wished she could say the same.
Chapter Fifteen
