Page 58 of Forgotten Romance

“Hmm …” He gazes desolately at his plate.

“That’s the boundary I wanted to talk to you about.”

“What do you mean?”

“Him or … anyone. We’ve never talked about what happens when one of us starts dating. Now, I have nothing on the radar, I’m way too busy with work”—and too in love with you—“but it’s clear you’re ready. And I’ll be supportive, I promise, but I … I can’t see it, Mack.” My voice breaks against my will. “Whether that means that you talk to whoever you’re seeing and ask them not to come by the house, or I move out, or?—”

“No.”

“It was just a suggestion.”

“You’re not moving out. This is your home.”

I sigh and look around because this house has my whole soul. “One day, it won’t be. And we need to be prepared for when that happens.”

He swallows thickly, blinking madly at his plate. “I won’t date.”

“Yes, you will. It’s an awkward situation, but I understand. All I ask is you don’t shove it under my nose, and, well, when it comes to the kids, I don’t want people in and out of their lives. It’s going to be confusing enough for them as it is, so please make sure that you’re sure about whoever you introduce them to.”

“That’s fair.”

I try to inhale, hoping that relief will take over, that the tension will finally leave. It doesn’t. Even with that conversation out there, I feel worse than ever.

“Okay, well, that’s all.” I pile food I won’t eat onto my plate, hoping it at least looks like things are back to normal.

Mack doesn’t go back to eating. He nudges the food on his plate with his fork for a moment before his phone goes off again.

We both go stiff. I don’t mean to, but without talking, it’s clear we know who it is.

Mack doesn’t make a move, so I know it’s on me.

“You can get that,” I whisper.

He leaves the table without a word.

18

Mack

My heart feels tender like a bruise as I kiss the kids goodbye and step aside, not wanting to meet Davey’s eye. To his credit, he’s been in a great mood all day, baking with the kids and building a fort in the living room.

This is a very, very bad idea.

I’d panicked when he said he only had two weeks left with us and texted Luke immediately to demand a date at his earliest convenience. Turns out that was only a few days away, and when I mentioned it to Davey, he didn’t even blink.

No jealousy was had.

And that fucking sucks.

What the hell am I going out at all for if he doesn’t care? I should be staying home with my family and soaking up all the time we can have together.

I can’t shake the melancholy that’s kicked in early this time. We haven’t told the kids he’s leaving again yet, and I selfishly want to make him do it. The thing is, our reduced timeline has screwed me. In my plan to make Davey so jealous he stays, I’d thought it would be a gradual buildup instead of being dumped into the dating waters before I was ready.

And if he doesn’t go for it, if he doesn’t decide he suddenly needs to stay, then, well, I have to come to terms with packing up our lives to go with him.

The three weeks before he leaves again is nowhere near enough time to get me and the kids organized.

I gnash my teeth over the fact my life is Davey, Davey, Davey, and head for Luke’s car. He’s pulled up out the front of next door and waited in the driver’s seat like I asked him to.

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