Page 35 of Mom-Com
A long suffering sigh. “I guess, Mom.”
Milly and Stein opened the car doors and slid in next to Clark. I fired up the engine and headed home, listening to their chatter and banter about their day. Eavesdropping seemed like the only way to hear about what happened at school each day. When I asked, all I got was a one-word answer.
As we got closer to home, I got more and more nervous about how to handle Jameson. I had to remember that my ultimate goal was to find a man to be a loving husband and father. I had already settled for a man who liked me, but was never in love with me. Not wanting to get married should have been a huge red flag, but of course, in the middle of desperately wanting companionship and motherhood, I’d settled for less just to keep him in my life. Of course, that only lasted until he found someone younger and more beautiful to rock his world. I wasn’t still bitter, but I absolutely was focused on getting everything I wanted in a relationship next time around.
It was outrageous love or nothing, baby.
I parked the car in my driveway and eyed my house warily. Jameson was nowhere to be found. The kids hopped out and Stein ran over to his place, entering the unlocked front door. Getting out of the car, I locked it and slowly walked into my place, assuming Jameson would be gone, but not knowing for sure.
The kids raced upstairs to their rooms and my living room was blessedly empty. I couldn’t help but eye the far wall, remembering what had taken place there just an hour or so ago, like the walls could talk and spill my secret.
My phone rang in my purse, startling me.
“Bejeezus, you’re jumpy today, Lil,” I muttered to myself.
I answered as soon as I saw it was Gabby. She was exactly who I needed to talk to.
“I need more juicy details, woman!”
“Well, hello to you too.” I set my purse on the breakfast table and sank down onto the couch, kicking my flips off and getting comfortable.
“Come on now. Readers are chomping at the bit for more Mom-Com action.” Gabby seemed way more excited over writing about my life than I was about living it.
“Mom-Com?” I scrubbed a hand over my forehead.
“Okay, seriously, you haven’t been reading my column? What kind of best friend are you?” Gabby scoffed.
“Sorry, been a little busy living my life over here, providing you with content for your precious column.” I just couldn’t take the teasing, letting my snark lead the way. I was too discombobulated by everything that had happened. It was like I was living in some alternate universe today where everyone lost their goddamn minds.
Gabby’s voice softened. “I’m just kidding, you know that. I really appreciate you letting me write about your dating endeavors. And so do my readers. They’re eating it up! The column is called The Reality of Love, Mom-Com Style. I figured if it went well, I might do more exposés on the reality of finding love in today’s world. Yours is just focused on the fact that you’re a single mom and most of what happens to you is quite comical, you gotta admit. In fact, the hashtag MomCom has taken off since the articles started.”
I groaned. “That’s great. Just great. My life is a viral comedy.”
“No, it’s not like that. People arelovingyou. Theyareyou. They’ve had similar experiences and feel like you’re their new best friend. I promise you’re famous in a good way. And hell, I’ve kept it so anonymous they have no idea who you are. Because I’m not sharing the best friend status with anybody. I’m your one and only. So spill.”
I was a little overwhelmed, thinking people were following my dating escapades so closely, but it was anonymous, and if shit hit the fan in my love life, I knew I could get Gabby to keep the true level of craziness out of the column.
“You’ll never guess what happened today.” Her quick intake of breath was the last sound she made for ten long minutes as I whispered to her my dream, the make-out session with Jameson, and then his embarrassing declaration of love. Hopefully the kids didn’t overhear any of it or I was going to have some massive explaining to do. I finally wound down and waited for her feedback.
All I heard was heavy breathing.
“Gabby?”
“Sorry. Give me a minute.” I could hear a big swallow over the phone and rolled my eyes at her drama. Although, I’d been pretty freaked out for a while too, so I guess I needed to give her time to come to terms with all that had happened.
“Can I just say, holy fuck, that was hot.” She let out a whoop that had me pulling the phone from my ear. “First the dream, and then Jameson bringing it to life. Damn. Despite the sweaters, that man has fire in his pants, huh?”
My cheeks went up in flames again. “Bejeezus, Gabby.” But yeah, I agreed with her. He was packing heat I never expected.
“Can I just say I called it?” She cackled and it was like nails on a chalkboard. “Okay, so what’s the problem here? Why are you freaked out?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Because he declared his undying love for me after our first kiss? Jesus, Gabby. Men don’t just do that. That’s not normal.” I jumped up off the couch and paced my living room, making sure to stay away from the wall that held all my secrets.
“Let’s back things up here a second, okay? You started this whole Fifty Ways to Find a Husband thing because you wanted a man to sweep you off your feet, right? A man who would shower you with time, attention, and unconditional love. Oh, and also be a fabulous dad to your children. You with me?”
“Yes.” I was getting a weird sinking feeling in my stomach.
“So, here’s this man, who happens to be well-educated and gainfully employed, so we can assume he won’t pickpocket you. He understands your life as a single mom because he’s a single father too. Your kids get along great. He’s hotter than Chris Hemsworth and compliments you left and right while he takes you clothes shopping. When you cut yourself, he bandages your finger like he’s nurturing an abandoned baby bird. He literally sweeps you off your feet to your favorite song and almost fucks you against the damn wall, but respects himself—and you—so much that he backs off when you call him by the wrong name. And then he throws himself at your feet and professes his love for you.”
