Page 32 of Hit the Ground
CK
I sank down on my porch step, thoroughly bowled over. Damn that man. He’d found a way around my flower ban and hastily constructed walls. Did he not understand how hard I was working to move on?
Probably not.
Well, I’d have to work harder.
I took out my phone, opened my dating app, and swiped to the conversation I’d been having with a guy the last few days. I’d been lukewarm about meeting him. Now I couldn’t remember why.
It might have been his slightly off-color jokes or the fact that his profile picture was him holding up a fish half his size, but I knew better than to judge a book by its cover.
I needed to move on. Truly.
It had taken less than five minutes to arrange a date. That easy. He was looking forward to it. By Saturday night, I was sure I would be too.
I looked at the plant beside me, its bright-green leaves unfurling under the porch light.
“I’m done,” I whispered to it. “Really. I’m done.”
I stood, brushed off my skirt, and carried the plant inside.
Chapter Eleven
Caleb
Asidefromacoupleseasons of football, I hadn’t been much of a joiner back in my school days. It was all I had been able to do to sit through class. Where I really wanted to be was on the ranch. I’d long ago accepted my son wasn’t anything like me, though—not when it came to school and learning.
I sat in the bleachers, elbows resting on my knees, watching the semi-organized chaos happening on the gymnasium floor. Kids darted between tables and taped-off lanes, some crouched over laptops, others fiddled with little wheeled robots that reminded me of souped-up vacuums.
Jesse was with his team, all of them wearing matching forest-green T-shirts. He’d spent half of last night on a call with his team, going over strategy and last-minute adjustments. This morning, he’d had so much on his mind, he’d barely spared me a word. I hadn’t taken it personally. This was his world. I was just here to support him as he made it spin.
I shifted on the hard wooden bench, rubbing at the back of my neck, my gaze wandering across the crowded gym. Coachesimparted reminders. Parents drank coffees bigger than their heads, trying to look alert. Kids tinkered with their robots.
Shelby was supposed to be here, but she’d texted Jesse early this morning, canceling. She’d given some excuse about Kent having an emergency. I wasn’t buying it, but I’d decided to mentally cut her some slack. Overall, she’d shown up to more of Jesse’s activities than she’d missed.
That didn’t mean I wasn’t pissed she’d disappointed our son. He’d tried to play it off, but there’d been no missing the slump in his shoulders.
I raked my hand over my beard, wincing at how overgrown it was. When was the last time I trimmed it? Cocking my head to the side, I racked my memories. Before I could pin down a date, Alice stepped through the door on the far side of the gym, pausing just inside, taking everything in.
Her pretty, fluffy curls spilled over her shoulders, covered in a faded denim jacket she wore over an eggplant-colored top and black pants. She looked a little lost, clutching her purse strap as she scanned the bleachers and floor like she wasn’t sure where to go.
I wasn’t sure either. Anyone else, I would’ve waved. Said hello. Done the polite small-talk thing.
“I’m over you.”
I’d been mulling over her pronouncement since she’d made it. It wasn’t something I’d ever been told, and while I supposed I should’ve viewed it as a good thing, it didn’t sit right with me. Problem was, I couldn’t sort out why.
Alice being over me was a good thing—for her sake. Being into me wouldn’t lead her anywhere good. Except, I didn’t know what Alice being over me looked like. Did I get ignored? Would she no longer serve my table at Joy’s? Get treated like I was every other customer?
I didn’t like the sound of any of that.
Alice crossed the gym floor, dodging kids and robots, until she reached the bleachers. As she climbed, she glanced around for a place to sit. The wooden rows had filled fast. If I didn’t speak up, she’d have to wedge herself between strangers.
“Alice.”
She turned, easily finding me on the edge of a row two steps up. I pointed to the empty space beside me.
