Page 73 of When I Had You

He shakes his head. “Mostly Sundays.” Um, that’s odd. He swivels in the chair and asks, “May I have juice?”

“Yeah, sure.” I get an apple juice from the fridge and hand it to the kid. “Every Sunday?”

“Race day.” He hops down after scoring a juice box and runs back to the couch to watch his show.

I don’t know what to make of that, but the garlic bread needs my immediate attention.

* * *

“Guess what?” Marina says as soon as she answers.

I waited until eleven, my time, to call her. My tired body sinks into the mattress. I’m more exhausted from the past few days with Cullen than from my high-intensity, high-risk job. “What?”

“I’ll be in midday but head straight to wardrobe and makeup. I have an afternoon packed with interviews and a late-night talk show. It films early, though, so I’ll be free by dinner. Hint. Hint.”

“Subtle.”

“It’s my specialty,” she says, laughing,

I chuckle as well, both of us knowing the truth. “Would you like to have dinner with me, Ms. Westcott?”

“And Cullen. We can go somewhere fun that he’ll—”

“If you’ll take me, I’m overdue for a grown-up conversation. Anyway, he probably needs a break from me. He called me grumps earlier.”

“He wouldn’t be the first.”

I feel like the sympathy I was looking for isn’t going to be found on this call. “He’s worn me down, Marina. The kid doesn’t need sugar. He’s wound up on life.”

She laughs. “Kids are great like that, but if you want me all to yourself—”

“I do.” I smile even though she can’t see me. “He’s been begging to spend the night at my mom’s.” It sounds as if my son prefers Grandma’s, and I’m okay with this. “She bakes cookies for him every time he stays over.”

“That will do it.” A little moue crosses the miles, and then she says, “Will you bake cookies if I stay at yours?”

“I’ll bake you anything you want, babe.” She sniffles, so I ask, “Hey, what’s going on?”

Her breath is unsteady, but she says, “This press tour and premiere are supposed to be a pinnacle in my career, but I’m just happy I get to see you again.”

Damn, it’s like she reached in and squeezed my heart. “I thought I was supposed to be romancing you?”

The softest of laughs is heard, and she whispers, “I’ve been sentimental all week.”

“I like that about you. And I can’t wait to see you again, Marina.”

The call isn’t long as she has an early flight, and Cullen has officially made me feel like an old man. I don’t know why I felt the need to pack in so many activities this week, but I think a few slower days are called for starting tomorrow.

I woke up with newfound energy and hopped on the treadmill to knock a few miles off this morning before Cullen wakes up. I hit my limit right around four, but I also find the treadmill boring as shit mentally. I prefer the runs with Duncan when we’re on location for all races.

I don’t hear from Marina until around two o’clock. She sends me a quick clip of her in hair and makeup before leaving to do interviews. I text:

You’re beautiful. Break a leg.

She replies:

I love you.

I will never leave her hanging:

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