Page 20 of A Very Un-Shakespeare Romance
“We have a job to do, Billie, one I take very seriously.” Maybe he would need to remind himself every time he saw Summer, but there wasn’t another option. “I expect you to do the same, and not go off like you’re on the prowl on a Friday night in Southie.”
“What’s on the prowl?” he heard Reagan ask.
That made him wince. He turned, feeling like he’d failed at being a good role model. God, he’d done his best with that responsibility as the oldest of eight kids. He’d savored never having to do it again.
“What’s with the whole magic in the pants thing?” Billie bandied back at Reagan as Robbie took the opportunity to wander off toward the patio window.
Mr. Deflection was in the house. Robbie wondered if that was how his brother handled women when they said they loved him. Not that his brother led anyone on. He was always completely straightforward. But that didn’t mean people didn’t fall for each other, even if it was one-sided. Billie said people suddenly up and “got ideas.”
That was something Robbie understood firsthand. He’d tried to be straightforward with the women he’d dated after his divorce, but he quickly fell into a pattern with everyone he dated. In the beginning, she’d say she understood his need to keep things casual, but a few months in, she’d get all clingy and gushy about how great he was and how she’d fallen for him.
The hurt, the drama, and the complications had led him to stop trying, resigning himself to getting laid less, sure. Pouring himself into work and being with family helped. But he still felt a hole in his life—not that he’d ever admit it out loud.
He carried another hole around inside him, from when his mother had died. He figured he could learn to carry this one too, after a near lifetime spent carrying the other.
He’d loved his ex-wife, but he was a cop, through and through, and after five years of marriage, she’d started to pressure him to quit and find another profession. She’d used ruthless words, whispered after hot sex.
If you love me…
If you believe in us…
God, she’d tried to manipulate him and guilt him at every turn until he’d finally concluded she wouldn’t stop. Southie girls were like that. In the end, they were both miserable. Unfulfilled. He’d packed up what he’d wanted from their apartment and left, leaving her a brief note on the kitchen counter after telling her they should get a divorce.I’m sorry. I can’t change.
If you asked him today, he’d still say no one should have to change who they were to have someone love them or stay with them. Love was a choice. First, last, and always. His ex had gone back on her choice to love a cop. He loved his job and he was good at it.
“Hey, Robbie!” Tim called, coming over and putting his hand on his shoulder. “Reagan said Tara didn’t want the girls to feel bad when they fart, so she told them it means they have a lot of magic inside them. I can’t wait to use that at Serenity Gardens. Come on. We’re going to fly that kite Billie bought.”
“Yeah, come on!” Reagan said, running over and taking Tim’s hand. “Cassidy wants to fly a kite too.”
“She does?” Tim danced over to the little girl on the floor and scooped her up. “Then fly it we shall. High into the heavens, where all the magic in the universe lies.”
Robbie regarded Billie as they left the room to find the kite. “Magic, huh?” he said distractedly. “Our baby brother is beyond addled. He’s—”
“Just because I appreciate a beautiful woman doesn’t mean I’m not taking this situation seriously.” His brother lifted his massive chin. “Same goes for you.”
His exhale was charged with frustration. “I’m sorry I implied that. I’m… Hell, I’m not used to playing on the beach and changing diapers. I’m used to—”
“I know what you’re used to.” Billie planted his feet. “Which is why it’s so colossal that you actually admitted to wanting to go out with that sweet woman next door.”
He was so not having this conversation. “Don’t turn into Tim and make me talk about my feelings.”
Billie’s mouth tipped to the right, and a rusty laugh snuck out. “Fine. How about we throw the football around outside and act like real men? Not diaper-changing pansies.”
Now they were talking. “Tackle or touch?”
Billie cracked his neck. “What do you think? And hey…maybe our next-door neighbors will enjoy a game of shirtless football. It’s the least we can do for Summer for helping soothe Cassidy.”
Robbie’s pulse sped up. He’d noticed Summer sneaking a glance at his bare chest earlier. “You’ve got a one-track mind.”
“Which I thank God for as a meat-eating, women-loving man.” He slung his arm around Robbie. “You might try easing up on yourself. Flirting with the girl next door could release some of your tension. Are you always like this at work?”
He thought of his partner giving him a gift certificate for a massage last Christmas.Mostlyas a joke. Of course, he hadn’t used it. He’d given it to Tara instead. God, Tara. Where was she today? What was she doing? “I’m worse,” he finally answered. “I’m every criminal’s worst nightmare.”
Billie erupted with laughter, dragging him down the stairs. Miss Purrfect hissed as they appeared, jumping off her sunny perch on the couch with a menacing meow before tugging at her collar again.
“Evidently, she doesn’t like the new collar,” he noted to Billie. “Maybe it’s all the rhinestones.”
“Yeah, Tim caught that, but Reagan said Tara told her to never remove it, or she’d get lost. Besides, it’s not like I want to get close to that cat.”
