Page 20 of Between Now and Forever
“I haven’t had time to decorate,” I say. “Much to Dylan’s dismay, I haven’t even gone to the grocery store yet.”
“Who is Dylan?”
“The one with the mouth.”
He nods, sipping his drink.
The room feels smaller, warmer ... cozier with him in it. I’m surprised it doesn’t feel odd having him in my space. I haven’t had a man in my home since Christopher died.
“So it’s just you and the two boys here?” he asks before taking another drink.
“Yeah. I grew up in Alden, actually, and moved away for college. I met their father there. We got married and moved to Boston. I’ve lived there ever since.”
He watches me over the rim of his mug, his eyes sparkling in the sunlight from the window. “Where’s their dad?”
I take a deep breath and blow it out slowly. I imagine Christopher whispering to me, telling me to relax. To trust myself. To enjoy this interaction. But that doesn’t make it easier to speak about his death.
“Their dad, his name was Christopher—he passed away.”
Jay’s eyes widen. “Shit. I’m sorry.”
“Thank you.” I sigh. “We had been divorced for a few years, but he was still one of my best friends. Chris was a great dad, and I hate the boys won’t—”
“Where is my backpack?” Dylan’s voice and footsteps on the stairs interrupt me. “I knew it would get lost when you told Carter he could use it. Now I can’t find it, and I know you ...”
My blond-headed child skids to a stop when his gaze settles on Jay.
“What were you saying?” I ask, lifting a brow.
“Who is that?” Dylan asks, motioning toward Jay with his head. His features make it clear he’s not happy to see a man in the house.
“I’m Jay. I live next door.”
Dylan turns his attention to him. “Why are you here?”
“I was fixing your deck, and your mother invited me in for a cup of coffee.”
“You don’t have coffee at your house?” Dylan asks.
“Dylan!”I hiss.
He glares at Jay. Jay looks unbothered. He lifts his mug and slowly sips, never taking his eyes off my son.
“Have you unpacked your drill?” Jay asks, setting his drink on the counter.
My heart pounds as I watch them go back and forth.
“What?” Dylan asks, his facade cracking.
“Every post out back needs a couple of screws put in them,” Jay says. “I didn’t look at the front, but I’d imagine it’s about the same. You’re gonna want to get on that before someone gets hurt.”
Dylan pulls his brows together. “I don’t understand.”
“What’s there to understand? You came in here and talked to me like a grown man, so I’m reciprocating. There are a lot of grown-man things that need to be done around here. Let me know if you need to borrow any of my tools.” Jay places his cup in the sink. “Thanks for the coffee, Gabrielle.”
“Yeah, of course,” I say, scrambling to understand what just happened. “Thanks, Jay.”
He winks at me before slipping out the back door.
