Page 7 of Shoot Your Shot

Walking into the living room, my dad looks at the TV, and instantly, his shoulders tense, and his jaw tightens. “Another movie day, Paige?”

“Well … yeah.” I shrug. “It was a long week at work, and I want to relax.”

Blowing out a breath, he grabs the remote from the arm of the couch and holds it up to the TV before powering it off. He takes a seat in the recliner, leaning forward and clasping his palms together. I know I’m about to get a speech about life, and I mentally prepare myself to listen and remember my dad loves me, even though I wish he and my mother would let me grieve my marriage in peace, regardless if that means watchingThe Notebooktoo many times and eating ungodly amounts of junk food.

“Look, I know you work your ass off all week at the office. And Lord knows being a physical therapist is no easy feat. But you can’t just spend every single weekend or day off on the couch, watching depressing fucking movies.”

“The Notebookisnotdepressing,” I toss back, knowing that’s a stretch because … it’sThe Notebook—enough said. “It’s, like, one of the greatest love stories of all time.”

He gives me hisare you serious right nowlook. “Your mother made me watch it, Paige. The woman has Alzheimer’s, and the man spends his days making her remember him. That’s depressing as shit.”

Relaxing back into the couch, I pull my throw blanket under my chin. “Agree to disagree.”

For a moment, his head hangs. And he’s silent before he looks up at me again. “Bruce is coming over to go over some things for the season, and he’s bringing Dexter with him.”

“And?” I deadpan, unsure of what Dexter being up my dad’s ass has to do with me.

His father is the assistant coach of the Mariners. But he and I have never been close.

He’s attractive, sure. But hanging out with random dudes wasn’t exactly on my to-do list when I was with Kolt. And now, it sounds even more terrible.

“He went through a divorce recently too. His wife left him last year. I told him you’d go grab a coffee with him to get out of the house.” He gives me a sharp look. “Might be good for you to talk to someone who has gone through something similar to you, Paige.”

Well, there it is.

I’m actually shocked because my father was so disappointed when I left Kolt. He never said it out loud, but it was obvious. My dad loves Kolt like a son, so I am shook that he wants me to go on a date with another dude.

“Well, first off, I haven’t gone through a divorce yet, Dad. So, I probably shouldn’t be looking for a new man. And let me think about it …” Then, I say sharply, “No. No thanks. I’m busy. Super busy.”

“It’s not like that with Dexter. I’m not telling you to go on a romantic date or some shit. All I want is for you to be around people your age. And like I said, he’s been through the same thing. Might be good for both of you.” He looks me up and down. “Also, you don’t look busy,” he says before standing. “He’ll be here in twenty-five minutes. I suggest you go get yourself ready. It’s not a date, Paige. I know you’re not ready for that. But for the love of all things, just go get a coffee with the kid. It would be good for both of you.”

“What’s in it for me?” I raise a brow, ready for him to bribe me like I’m five years old.

I’ve been bugging him for the same thing for weeks. Maybe he’ll finally let me get it if I go get a coffee with someone I don’t want to.

His eyes stare into mine, and when the corner of my mouth turns up because I know he’s about to cave.

“I’ll let you get the damn cat you’ve been pestering the shit out of me for,” he huffs out. “But it’d better not piss or shit in my fucking house, Paige.”

Quickly shooting up off the couch, I rush over and hug him. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! It won’t shit or piss in your house, I swear! I’ll litter-box train it. It’ll be fine!”

My whole life, I’ve wanted a cat. But when Kolt and I decided to start trying for a baby, I put getting one on hold because I assumed I’d get pregnant quickly, and adding a kitten to the mix would make things more stressful. And when I moved back home with my parents, my dad said no way in hell was I allowed to get a cat. The man has always claimed a strong dislike for cats—we’ll just have to see about that once I get one.

And now, here I am, twenty-seven years old, and I’m hugging my dad because he’s letting me get a cat. Life sure is strange.

I release him and rush away to head to my room, but his voice stops me.

“Wait a second. A litter box? The cat’s going to shit in a box inside my house?”

Not turning around, I shrug. “Well, it sure as hell isn’t going outside!” I take off toward the stairs again. “Be down soon! I wanna get thisnota coffee date over with so I can go pick out my cat!”

When I pull up in front of my in-laws’ house, my palms are fucking sweating against the steering wheel, just like they did the entire five hours on the drive here.

Last night, with Logan, the truth came out—about everything. When he told me I had fucked up by not being honest with my wife, it all clicked just how bad I had made things.

He didn’t sugarcoat anything. When he told me I was an idiot for not telling Paige the truth about why I had been pushing her away and not giving her the choice to stay, I knew he was right.

I’ve known since she left that I’d never be whole without her. My head told me it was time to stop loving her. But my heart never got the fucking memo.

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