Page 53 of In the Works

I stammered for words, looking around for the girls before speaking. Once I saw them playing Dragons in the corner with the other little siblings, I nodded. “Dating is like… so mean.”

“Yeah, kind of.” Zoey giggled. “Anything in particular?”

As I thought, Robin leaned over and looked at me. It was a little unusual for me tonottell Robin everything. Even when Jason and I first decided to separate, I texted her before my own sister and parents.

All of this – with Bri and Victoria – felt too big to talk about.

I bit the inside of my cheek. “I told Bri that I was seeing Vic and it was just weird.”

Robin’s forehead wrinkled. “Did she take it okay?”

“Of course.” The thought of Bri taking anything poorly was almost laughable. She was steady and calm. And seeing other people was her idea to begin with. I paused, watching as a pitch came hurtling toward Derek.

He let his arms swing the bat, trusting his instincts.

A loudbinkrang out across the field as the metal met the leather covering of a baseball.

Robin leapt up, cheering already as my son took off toward first base. I watched closely as his small legs pushed his body forward. The short stop flung the ball from third base over to first. Just in time, Derek’s foot slammed against the base.

“Yes!” I yelped, pumping my fist.

Once the crowd finished clapping, I sat back down and sighed. “I don’t know, isn’t it weird in such a small town to be dating both of them?”

Zoey shook her head. “No. Like, I get why you feel that way. But it’s the nature of all of this shit. Hell, when I started seeing Robin, Claire was still hanging around.”

Rolling her eyes, Robin groaned. “God, that was a pain in the ass.”

I still remembered that relationship. Just how poorly suited Robin was to her. Most of us knew that Zoey and Robin’s love was written in the stars, that someday they’d put all of that angst aside and just admit they were in love with each other.

“But how long can that last?” Leaning onto my knees, I crossed my arms and stared at the field.

Zoey sighed as she gave her belly a light rub. “That is a tough question. Probably not as long as you want.”

We clapped for the next hitter who got on first as Derek shuttled along to second.

With a goofy grin, Robin wiggled her eyebrows. “Do you have any idea who you’re feeling more?”

The worst part was: I really couldn’t say. They were both great and offered so much.

After a minute, I shook my head. “I have no idea.”

Groaning, Zoey leaned back onto the bleachers. “Boring. I wanted gossip.”

I laughed at her, dramatic as always. We went back to watching the game and my mind kept swimming.

As I drifted off into thought, my phone buzzed with a text from Bri:

Hiya, how do you feel about a hike on Sunday? I could use some inspiration.

My heart fluttered at the thought of alone time with Bri. We had some unfinished business after testing out that table’s sturdiness. And I hadn’t been able to get her out of my mind since.

Zoey peeked over my shoulder and raised her eyebrows.

Ignoring her, I typed a response.

Perfect. Kids leave for Jason’s on Saturday so I’m around any time.

Once I hit send, I tucked my phone back into my pocket. It was hard to stay off it with so many work texts coming in at any moment. Vic was not afraid to reach out if she needed anything… or if she just wanted to flirt.

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