Page 18 of The Way We Score

We walk slowly along the edge of the bay until we reach the end of the sand. We reach the point where a massive log stretches into the water and behind it is thicker foliage. It’s probably leftover from one of the hurricanes, but the sturdy bushes keep us from venturing farther.

“Have a seat.” He holds my hand, and I sit beside him on the log.

I expect water turtles climb up here during the day to bask in the sun. I imagine it’s the same three turtles who gave their names to the restaurant. What did he call them? A laugh puffs through my nose.

“What?” He glances up at me from where he sits.

“I was just thinking about Snappy, Happy, and Earl.”

“Oh.” He takes a sip, grunting a laugh. “Kimmie loves those guys.”

“That’s Jack’s little girl?”

“Yeah. Jack’s a single dad, but he’s really good at it.”

“He always was.” I think about his serious oldest brother.

Jack stepped up when their parents died and held the reinson this crazy bunch of kids. He kept them close, like a good big brother. He was always so good at everything.

Garrett takes another sip of his beer. The air is heavy with all the words we might say to each other right now. It’s not the first time we’ve been together since The Last Time, but it’s the first time we’ve been alone together. I have no idea where to begin.

He’s the first to speak. “I’ve been wondering why you’re back here all by yourself.”

I pick at the label on my beer. Nothing like getting straight to the point.

“I’m not by myself.” I lower the bottle, giving him a wink. “I’m here with you.”

He huffs a laugh. “You know what I mean. Last I checked you were married. Now it looks like you’re not wearing a ring.”

Looking down, I spread the fingers of my left hand, studying the third one. It’s been over so long, it doesn’t even have a suntan line. I don’t even carry a trace of that mistake.

“It didn’t work out.”

“He must be a real loser.” It’s a low retort, almost lost in the sip of beer he takes.

Squinting one eye, I study my companion. “You don’t even know him.”

“No, but I know you. Olivia Bankston never gives up. She gives 120 percent, and she doesn’t quit until she’s sure it’s a lost cause.”

It’s not teasing or judgmental. The last words carry a tinge of regret, almost like he’s thinking the same thing I am. Almost like now after all this time he recognizes how hard I tried.

“I couldn’t get pregnant.” The words fall out of my mouth so fast, I can’t stop them.

Like heavy marbles pressing against my lips. Like that old musicalMy Fair Lady.

“What?” He blinks up at me, stunned.

“I’m sorry.” I cover my mouth with my hand.

“No, don’t apologize. I wasn’t trying to pry or make you tell me…”

“Of course you weren’t.” I shake my head, letting it all out, unable to stop it. “We couldn’t get pregnant, and I didn’t want to do fertility treatments. He said it was because I wasn’t committed to our marriage, but it wasn’t that.”

“He sounds like a total dick.” A growl enters Garrett’s tone, and I almost love him for it.

“He was right. I didn’t want to put my body through all that… that difficult, costly ordeal. I didn’t want to do all that hard, emotional work to create a baby with a man I wasn’t sure was my forever.” I look at the bottle in my hand. “So I blamed my job. I wanted to be a partner. I was just getting established at the firm, and I wanted to be taken seriously.”

“Nothing wrong with that.”