Page 69 of His Bittersweet Regret

“My brother has the baby overnight?

“That’s what I just said.”

Jimmy then waggled his finger back and forth between Joe and me.

“What exactly is going on here?”

“That’s really none of your business,” I answered at the same time Joe said, “We’re on a date.”

“You’re on a date while my brother, your ex-boyfriend, babysits your kid?”

My brow rose at that. “No. I’m on a date while your brother spends his visitation time with his son. It is his child too, therefore he’s not babysitting. He’s being a parent.”

“Does he know you’re out on a date while he’s being a parent to Austin?” Jimmy asked. The only thing stopping me from walking away and ignoring him was that his tone wasn’t accusatory, just curious.

“It’s not really his business what I do when he’s spending time with Austin, Jimmy. We’re not together anymore. Marsh left me almost a year ago.”

“No offense, man,” he said to Joe before addressing me again. “I just thought the two of you would work your shit out and get back together, especially after having a baby.”

“Maybe your family needs to fill you in on some things, but this is a really inappropriate time and place to have this discussion, Jimmy. Not to mention, it’s still none of your business.”

“Fair enough,” he said as he took a couple steps back. He started to turn and then glanced back at Joe. “Sorry for the intrusion on your date and for what I’m about to say.” Then he turned to me, “For what it’s worth, Joe’s a good guy, but you belong with my brother. Always have, always will.”

“Well, shit,” Joe said as we watched the four Kennedy brothers take off.

“I’m so sorry.” The apology left me immediately. “I’ve been enjoying myself for the first time in a very long time, so I guess I should have known a Kennedy would come along and ruin the night. I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to end things here.”

Joe chuckled. “I’ve waited four months, since I asked you out that first time, to actually get you out on a date. There’s no way I’m throwing in the towel because Jimmy came back confused about family dynamics after his deployment.”

“I highly doubt he was confused. Those boys see causing me trouble as an amusing pastime. The twins probably put him up to it.”

“I doubt it, Opal. Jimmy doesn’t play games like those two do.” He was serious while defending his friend.

“Maybe.”

“What do you say we give up the golf and go grab that dinner now?”

I offered Jo a grateful smile. “That would be wonderful.”

“Good, because I want that easy vibe we had back and I don’t think we’ll get it here with those four wandering around.”

I nodded because if I said anything, it probably wouldn’t come out right. Ruining my first date, since Marsh broke up with me, was not on the agenda. We ended up at a restaurant I hadn’t been to in ages, Angelo’s Place. They served typical Italian-American food, from pizza and pasta to burgers. They were also very popular with the date crowd on the weekends.

It seemed to take forever for our waitress to show up to get our drink order, let alone the food. When she did, the woman did not appear to be happy.

“Hello, Joe. I guess I see why things didn’t work out between us, huh?” Our waitress glared at me, like I’d personally wronged her, only I had no clue who she was.

“Sheila, this isn’t the time or the place.”

“So, we dated for the past three months, and out of the blue you decide we’re done and a week later, you’re out with this woman? Were you seeing her the whole time we were together?”

She seemed truly distraught, as I was left sitting there doing the mental math that made my face flame red in embarrassment. The first time Joe asked me out, I had still been pregnant and maybe he had been single at the time, or at least hadn’t been with Sheila yet.

When he asked me out two weeks ago, he was still with Sheila. It was then I turned an accusatory glare on him. “You were dating someone else when you asked me out?”

“No, I dated her after I asked you out. And when you finally agreed to go out with me again, I ended things.”

I scrunched up my nose. “So, she was what? A placeholder until I was ready?” He shrugged and poor Sheila was standing there taking everything in with tears in her eyes. Apparently, she thought there was a lot more between them. “Did she know that?” I asked him. He glowered her way before focusing his attention back on me.

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