Page 34 of Her Football Star Ex

I swallowed as I tried to think of how to respond to her last message. Her apology for TMI told me she was self-conscious about putting it all out there, so I didn’t want to say the wrong thing.

Heaven knows I’d said the wrong thing in the past when I was just trying to comfort her about not being able to have a baby.

I chewed on my lip, my thumbs hovering over the keypad on Cole's phone. Then I typed out,I’m sorry to hear about that. That has to be difficult.

It was the best I could come up with at the moment.

If I knew Emerson, she was probably already freaking out over the fact that “Tyler” was taking so long to respond, so I pushed send and hoped she’d still want to keep the conversation going with me. Because even though we’d seen each other several times each week for the past year as we exchanged Jaxon, this was the most vulnerable she’d been with me in a long time.

And I didn’t want it to stop.

I wanted to get as much out of the next hour as I could because I didn’t know if I’d ever get this opportunity again.

Another message came back.

Emerson:It is what it is.

I waited, hoping she’d say something else, but she didn’t.

Think, Vincent, think.

I needed to think of something to keep her talking. I didn’t want to lose this moment and have her start messaging with some other guy because the topic was hard or awkward. But I also didn’t want to change the subject outright, or she might think she’d mademeuncomfortable.

I rubbed my hands over my thighs.

Should I tell her that I had experienced the same thing? Just from the man’s side of it.

Tell her that it had killed me to see her feel so empty and broken and not be able to fix it for her?

Or would that seem like too big of a coincidence and somehow clue her into who she was talking to? I’d already mentioned having a son.

How many single guys in the Denver area fit that demographic?

Probably more than I would think, but I didn’t want to risk outing myself yet.

Thankfully, the universe, or whatever force was working with me to make this conversation happen, must have decided to intervene again because Emerson sent another message and saved me from coming up with anything.

Emerson:Anyway, enough about that. Let’s talk about other stuff. You said you had a son. Does that mean you’re divorced?

Me:Yes.

Emerson:Me too. And if you can tell from the way I blabbed all my secrets to you it’s probably obvious that I haven’t really dated since then.

I was surprised she was being so honest.

Was she so open with everyone now? Because those last six months of our marriage I didn’t think she had even been this open with me.

But instead of allowing myself to be hurt over it, I responded,I actually really appreciate the transparency. It’s refreshing. And if we’re both being transparent here, I haven’t been on a date since my divorce either.

I hadn’t even had any interest in it. Not when I knew I was still in love with my ex-wife.

Emerson:How long ago was that?

Me:Just over a year. You?

I only asked that last question because “Tyler”shouldbe curious about that.

Emerson:Same.

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