Page 49 of The One I Want
“Real mature, guys,” Cara says, now stomping to her car. “You got your wish. He’s back with you.”
“Nah,” Simon says. “The real wish was granted the second you asked for a divorce. We won’t miss you. Oh, and the tuxes you made us wear for your wedding were ugly. Kind of like the knockoff designer shoes you’re wearing now.”
“Fuck you, Simon.”
“Not even with my worst enemy’s dick.”
I swear at that point I see smoke come out of her ears, which of course makes them start laughing even harder. I do my best to put a neutral expression on, but it takes everything I have in me.
“Oh, come on!” he yells as she gets in the car. “Be sure to call me if you want to buy a house in Tennessee!”
She slams the door and speeds away.
Simon looks at us, wearing the best fake confused face I’ve ever seen.
“Was it something I said?”
That sends me over the edge and sputtering with laughter. I don’t know if you could have three better friends than these guys right here.
“You didn’t have to do this,” I say as I look at Shane. “They even got you in on this?”
He nods. “The balloons were my idea.”
“Thanks, guys,” I say. “I don’t know what else to say.”
“You can thank us later,” Oliver says, opening the door to my car. “Now, we need to get you back to Rolling Hills. Amelia is setting up as we speak.”
“For what?”
“My friend, you just got divorced,” Simon says. “We would be shit friends if we didn’t properly get you drunk tonight. It’s the rule.”
“I don’t know,” I say. “I really don’t want to be around people. And I just told Cara the kids could come visit tonight so she could have her Christmas with them.”
“We thought you might have objections,” Oliver says as he finishes typing something on his phone. “We have set up coolers, a grill, and a bonfire in your parent’s field. And as for the kids, Betsy’s on top of it.”
I smile. This must have been what Betsy was referring to earlier.
“I guess I can’t say no.”
“You can’t,” Shane says, patting me on the back as I get in my car. “Now get in the car. You, my friend, are officially a single man.”
Chapter20
Betsy
When Wesfirst told me what he was going to pay me to be the nanny, my jaw literally dropped. And that’s not me using literally wrong. It did. It did again when I found my first direct deposit amount.
However, I think I’m going to need to ask for a raise after what I’m about to do.
“Kids, we’re here.”
I pull up to the Four Seasons and put the car in park. It’s only a minute before a valet comes around and helps us unload our bags and presents that we wrapped after I got the text from Wes.
When he told me what the new plan was, I didn’t say anything, because it’s not my place. But I’ll admit I was nervous about how this would go. Luckily, Wes was back at the house before we left. He assured the kids—and me—that tonight was just a night with their mom. That it was going to be presents and movies and a big slumber party.
That seemed to help the kids relax. Not so much for me.
“You ready?”
