Page 116 of Breaking News

“Are you the reason she cried on TV a couple weeks ago?”

That was enough. With a sigh, I closed my laptop and unplugged the HDMI cord. “All right, that’s it for today. Let’s try this again on Monday without everyone trying to dissect my personal life, sound good?”

There were a few groans, but most of them were just happy to get out of there early on a Friday. It only took a couple minutes for the room to clear out.

Only Reese remained. He approached me as he shoved his beat-up notebook in his backpack. “I heard there’s going to be an open reporter position at theWoodvale Times,” he said.

I stiffened for a second. “Yeah, there will be.” Meghan was permanently settling into the editor role, and they needed someone to fill her old spot.

“I think I’m gonna apply,” Reese said, his voice shaky but determined. “I know I don’t have a degree yet, but maybe my writing will speak for itself. And if I can put you down as a reference, maybe I’ll have a shot.”

It took everything in me not to laugh. The thought of Xander having to interact with this guy almost broke me, but I kept my expression neutral. “Reese, you’re not quite ready for a job like that yet. One day, yes, but you should focus on school for now. And trust me, you don’t want me as a reference. Not with everything going on.”

Reese nodded, but I could tell he wasn’t discouraged. “I might still try. Worth a shot, right?”

“...Yeah,” I said, packing my laptop away. “Best of luck to ya.”

“Thanks.” He slung his backpack over his shoulder. “What about you?”

I looked up. “What about me?”

“You just do this part-time, right? What are you going to do for money now?”

God, these college students and their total disregard for boundaries. I huffed a laugh and zipped my laptop bag. “I’m not sure, Reese, but I’ll figure something out.”

“When I was scrolling through Indeed the other night, I saw this listing for a regional reporter gig at theIndyStar. It soundedamazing. They want a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, though. But what about that for you?”

I paused longer than I meant to, knowing I had that very application half-filled out already. Xander still didn’t know they were interested in him for that position yet, because I hadn’t told him.

“Oh, wow,” I said, injecting some fake cheer into my voice as I gathered the rest of my things. “I’ll have to look into that.”

“You definitely should go for it. And if you get it, don’t forget about us little guys,” Reese joked, adjusting the strap of his backpack.

“Students like you are impossible to forget, Reese,” I said, giving him a hard pat on the back. “All right, I’ve got to lock up the classroom and get home to my kids. And my girlfriend.”

Fuck, I loved saying that out loud.

By the time I got home, Caleb, Olivia, and Richie were already in the living room debating about where to order pizza from. “I’m the pregnant one,” Olivia was saying with her arms crossed, “so I think that gives me final say.”

I laughed as I unbuttoned my sleeves and began rolling them up. “I think we may have to give in to her, guys,” I said, and Richie and Caleb eventually caved.

“Then Moretti’s andFinal Destinationit is,” Olivia said with a smile, picking up the remote from the coffee table. “I’ll find out where it’s streaming.”

For a moment, I stood there and stared at the three of them as they spread out on the furniture like they were in for the night. “You all actually want to stay in? With me?”

It almost felt too good to be true, but they nodded and shrugged, like this was exactly where they wanted to be.

I cleared my throat, looking at Richie. “Are you staying the night, then?” I asked.

He shot Olivia a nervous glance before looking at me. “We weren’t sure if that was allowed.”

I slipped my hands into my pockets. “It’s fine. Just don’t give me a reason to regret saying that, alright?”

Richie began to smile. “Thanks, Dad.”

There was no time to react to him calling me Dad—now for the second time—because Olivia stood up and said, “Isn’t Jill next door? Do you think she’d want to join us?”

I paused. I’d planned on stopping by the Gardners’ after the movie to see her and maybe have a beer, but perhaps inviting her over here wasn’t a bad idea. I wouldn’t pressure her, of course, if she wasn’t ready to come into my world that way. She hadn’t even met Caleb yet.

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