Page 6 of Forgotten Romance

Me:

SOS.

SOS. SOS. SOS.

The second Davey is nestled upstairs with the kiddies, my official freak-out begins.

Three months? I get him home for three whole stinking months? Maybe if I can make the next three months the best they’ve ever been, if I’m sweet and romantic and look after him, if I remind him how things always were together, this will be my chance. A life that good is too hard to walk away from twice. Right?

The group chat has not reacted to my distress signal, which is, quite frankly, rude and insulting.

I skip the fun of keeping them in suspense because I’m bursting with energy and a plan, and I need to get it all out. Now. Immediately.

My phone lights up with a call from Art. He’s one of my closest friends and was happily playing the field before Joey made him fall head over tit.

“Hello?”

“What’s the emergency?”

I grin. “I’m going to win my husband back.”

There’s complete silence, and I check the call is still connected. Then, Art says one word.

“No.”

I halt, head in the freezer, as I look to see if we have the ingredients for the casserole Davey likes. “No what?”

“You will not be doing that.”

A little of my excitement dims. “Why not?”

“Because,” Art says patiently. “It goes completely against our current plan, which is to get you dating again. What happened to Luke?”

I think of the guy I went out with once and who’s texted me a few times. Our one and only date ended up with me in the hospital from anaphylaxis. “We, uh, haven’t caught up again. No good time. I’m very busy.”

“Mack, it’s me. Cut the shit.”

“Fine. I don’t want to go out with him.”

“Okay, then. We’ll find someone else. Plenty of fish in the sea and all that. Maybe you can take a leaf out of Griff’s book—got any best friends I can push you together with?”

“Yes. Davey.”

His sigh is less patient than his words. “You’re divorced. For a good reason.”

“But what if?—”

“No.”

“But—”

“Mack. No. We’ve been over this.” He groans. “Look, I’m only going to say this once because I will support whatever you choose to do, but you know that if you go through with this plan, you’re going to get hurt. Davey is going to leave again. I love the guy, I loved you two for each other, but I’m friends with him too, and I know a workaholic when I see one. He loves his job. You made him choose once, and he did. You won’t survive coming second again.”

I swallow around the lump building in my throat. “I know. But I have to try.”

“Okay. I tried. I said my piece. If that’s your choice, what do you need me to do?”

“Really?” The fact he switched sides like that so quickly makes me think this could actually work. “You’ll help?”

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