Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25937 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25937 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
He kisses me on the forehead before slipping away, and I know the tingling in my cheeks doesn’t have anything to do with the cold.
I head back to the crowd—most of our wedding party—gathered near the concession stand. As I approach Steph to discuss our fall, she turns, her eyes lighting up. “Derek, just in time.” She takes my arm and guides me to the concession stand, where a hot guy in a beanie works behind the counter. His sweater is tight enough to keep me from having to guess about his thick biceps and trim waist.
“Hey, wait a minute,” I say. “Weren’t you working up at the lodge this time last year?”
“Yeah. Name’s Rex. I’d try to guess your name, but pretty sure I was just calling you guys Daddy and Twink while you were here.”
“Flattery will get you everywhere, Mister Rex,” I say, batting my eyes.
“Yeah, I still work up at the lodge, but most of us take on extra jobs during tourist season.”
“Well, Rex, it’s wonderful meeting you.” Steph shakes his hand. “Derek and I were hoping to maybe get a little Baileys for our hot chocolate.”
He smiles, grabbing the Baileys and pouring two shots’ worth into each of our cups.
“Oh, I don’t have my debit card on me,” I say, realizing my mistake.
“It’s on me,” Steph says as she reaches into her back pocket.
“No, this’ll be on me. I insist,” Rex says. “I promised this evil twink some shots on a bet during game night.”
“You remember that, but you can’t remember my name?” I ask, suspicious.
“Eh, maybe I just like calling you Twink better.”
I laugh at his playfulness. We’d had a lot of fun with Rex and the other guys we’d met last winter.
Steph and I thank him again before heading back to the pond, where the guys are skating again. We step to the edge.
“Well, you had the right idea, for sure,” I tell her, enjoying the flavor of the Baileys in the hot chocolate.
“I have to be honest, Derek. I did want to get you on your own for a moment.”
I eye her peculiarly.
“There were a lot of things I worried about when Jackson and I divorced, but his parenting wasn’t one of them. He prioritized Zane above everything else—still does. What I didn’t really expect was what a great friend he’d continue to be to me.” She tears up, sniffling. “Oh damn. This was supposed to be a cheerful conversation. Anyway, I know I’m supposed to be the bitchy ex-wife and all…or just angry and jealous of my ex-husband’s new lover. It’s a terrible stereotype that makes you think it can’t be any other way. But I wanted to tell you that in the very beginning, I might have been a little suspicious whether you were the right man for Jackson. I encouraged him to have fun and explore things with you. He needed that, but in terms of something more serious, you were so experienced, and he was really only figuring things out for himself. I worried it might be too much, too soon. But I don’t know if I ever knew his real smile—a full, relaxed, joyous smile and laugh from him—until he met you. When I saw it that first time when you guys were over for dinner one night, I was so relieved. I hadn’t known he was even capable of that, and I guess it was better to see it and know he was in that moment than to feel like he’d been missing something all those years before. I always wanted the best for Jackson. I’ve been lucky to have Damian and the best son in the world, and the best of friends in Jackson. But he deserves everything too, and it’s a relief to know that’s what he’s getting.”
She offers a warm smile. As much as we’ve gotten along in our time knowing one another, I can feel her vulnerability in the moment as she shares her best wishes for her ex-husband. It warms my twinky heart to see how much she still cares about his happiness.
“Oh, that was sneaky.” A tear escapes my eye, and I wipe it with the back of my hand. “Evil ex-wife trying to get me to cry. I see how it is.”
She throws her head back and laughs again.
“In all seriousness,” I add, “I feel the same way about him. I mean, I’ve spent most of my life smiling—at least trying to present that smiling face to the world. But it’s something that comes effortlessly when I’m with him.” I move closer to her and put my arm around her, drawing her in. “You’re right. Jackson deserves the best. I just hope I can give that to him.”
“That mark on your wrist gives me confidence that you can.” We enjoy another laugh together before she adds, “Now let’s get this Baileys down so we can fall a few more times before the night’s over.”