Page 97 of Married to the Frenemy

“Just be sure you make time for each other,” Mitch advises. “Work will always be there. Time… Well, that you can’t get back.”

I take the bag he hands me. I know more than most how fleeting time is.

“Thanks, Mr. Howard.”

“Sure thing, Beckham.”

I turn and head out of the hardware store, the downtown area busy with a mixture of locals and tourists soaking up yet another beautiful spring day. The sky is a brilliant shade of blue, dotted with a few fluffy white clouds.

It’s the kind of day that I would have taken Maggie to get ice cream after picking her up from preschool. The thought brings a sharp pang to my chest.

Even though she’s not mine, I loved our afternoons together while Haley made a cake delivery. Loved spoiling her with ice cream. Loved watching her play. Loved hearing her giggles fill my otherwise empty world.

“Maggie, watch where you’re going, sweetie.”

At the sound of the familiar voice, I’m ripped out of my memories. I suck in a deep breath when I see Haley and Maggie come out of the ice cream store, Maggie’s sweet face already covered in chocolate.

The instant the little girl sees me, her eyes light up. “Beck!”

Not even caring that she’s holding an oversized ice cream cone, she rushes toward me. Instinct takes over, and I crouch down to her level, deftly grabbing the ice cream from her hands before wrapping my arms around her. I close my eyes, basking in her unwavering affection.

“I’ve missed you,” she says softly against my t-shirt.

I don’t even care that it’s probably stained with chocolate.

“I’ve missed you, too.” I brush a kiss to her head.

“Then why don’t you come home?”

I pull back and meet her gaze, unsure of what to say.

“Sweetie, we’ve talked about this.” Haley touches a hand to Maggie’s shoulder, and I drop my hold on her, pulling myself to my full height. “Beck and me, we’re not together anymore.”

She’s not telling her anything new. But hearing it out loud still stings.

“I found a new place to live, so we’ll be out of your house by the end of the month,” Haley states, her expression even and devoid of emotion. “Figured that would help with the physical separation requirement.”

I hand Maggie her ice cream, then step toward Haley. “You don’t have to rush anything.”

“I’d rather not stay in that house.” Her voice rises in pitch, and she glances at the sky, unshed tears glistening in her eyes.

It would be so easy to beg her to stay. Tell her I was an idiot. That it killed me to push her away. That I did it for her own good.

But I don’t.

Because like Jude said… I’m a fucking coward.

“Understood. I’ll let you get on with your day.”

I continue down the sidewalk, each step I take away from Haley and Maggie requiring immense effort. Like some force is trying to keep me here. With them.

“Beck! Wait!”

When I hear Maggie call out to me, I stop and face her, watching as she trades her ice cream for her favorite stuffed animal, an elephant named Fred.

“What is it, pipsqueak?”

“Mommy said you’re scared, and that’s why you’re not living with us right now.”

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