Page 39 of Second Chance for the Single Mom

Jordan shrugged. “It’s surprisingly tough to meet women. None of the other residents have time to date. Honestly, most of the women I meet are the moms of kids I coach, and they’re all married.”

“Surely notallof them are married,” Sara said innocently.

I wished I was sitting next to her so I could kick her under the table.

“I’m really glad you joined us for dinner!” Sara said cheerfully. “It’s fun to catch up with old high school friends, isn’t it, Haley?”

“It is,” I said, shooting her another glare.

“Who wants dessert?” Sara announced. “I made apple pie.”

“I can’t say no to pie.” Jordan’s leg brushed against mine as he pushed back his chair and stood. “Don’t get up. I’ll bring the pie over.”

Sara narrowed her eyes at me while Jordan prepared dessert for everyone. I tried to ignore her, but I was thinking the same thing she was.

Jordan has grown into quite the man.

After clearing the table, I announced that it was time for bed. “Can Coach Jordy tuck me in?” Bran asked hopefully.

“Um. I think we’ve taken up enough of Coach Jordy’s time tonight,” I said.

Bran ignored me and turned to Jordan. “Please, Coach Jordy? If you tuck me in, I can show you my baseball cards.”

“Kids your age still collect baseball cards?” Jordan winked at me. “Well now Ihaveto tuck you in. Gotta make sure you’ve got all the right cards.”

Bran grabbed his hand and led him out the back door toward our apartment. “Most of my cards are for the Mariners, but I have six Yankees cards, including Gerrit Cole…”

When they were gone, I turned to Sara. “I liked Bran better when he was too young to ignore me.”

“Aw, I think it’s sweet that he’s so obsessed with Jordan,” Sara said. “You have to remember, he doesn’t have any male authority figures in his life.”

“Harper is around all the time!” I said.

Sara narrowed her eyes. “I love my husband more than anything in the world, but it’s not the same. This isgoodfor Bran.”

I didn’t want to admit she was right, so I left the main house to go follow the boys up to our apartment. Jordan was standing outside Bran’s bedroom door.

“He’s putting on his favorite pajamas,” Jordan told me.

“The ones with dinosaurs on them,” I said.

Jordan scoffed at me. “Hey, spoilers!”

The door opened and Bran stood there in his green pajamas. “They haveeverydinosaur on them.” He began pointing. “Velociraptor, Triceratops, Stegosaurus… andof course, T-Rex.”

“Of course,” Jordan said, humoring him.

I watched from the doorway as Jordan helped my son up into his bed and under the sheets. Then Jordan grabbed a picture book off the bedside table, sat on the edge of the bed, and opened it up.

“Oh, look atthisdinosaur,” Jordan said. “Did it really have feathers?”

I smiled as the two of them excitedly discussed dinosaurs, although Bran kept yawning. It was tough not to think about what Sara had said. I had always felt like I wasenoughfor my son, that I could raise him by myself without needing anyone else. I still believed that… but I was beginning to wonder if maybe Bran was missing out on something.

He doesn’t have to be Bran’s father, I scolded myself.Being his baseball coach is plenty.

Soon, Bran’s eyes were too heavy to stay open. Jordan returned the book to the bedside table, slowly stood up, and then exited the room on soft feet.

“I thought that would take longer,” Jordan whispered as we closed the door. “Especially when he started explaining Velociraptors versus Utahraptors.”

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