Page 43 of Endlessly Yours
Because they’d already wondered why I had been so out of it after I picked them up after the pizza party.
I knew that my friends were trying to give me any help that they could by taking the girls for some moments, ensuring that I had some time to myself, and yet, it seemed like I wasn’t making good decisions when I had that time alone.
“Come on, girls, we have to get to school now. I have two schools to drop you off at.”
“No bus today?” Brooks asked as he set Alice down.
“Buses are for losers,” Cameron said with her chin held high.
I leaned forward. “Or buses are for kids that are lucky enough to be in a place with one. Or maybe their parents are working.”
“Whatever.” Cameron got into the SUV as Alice waved back to Brooks and settled into the back next to her.
That left me alone with Brooks in my front yard, throat tight, wondering what the hell I was supposed to say.
“At least she seems to be talking to you with the same attitude she talks to me.”
Brooks’s lips twitched. “Good to know I’m one of the lucky few. Have a good day, Rory.”
I blinked as he turned away from me, heading to his truck, and I had to wonder why I should be disappointed. It wasn’t like we were in a relationship. Not really. Or not at all. Why was I disappointed that he hadn’t touched me or leaned forward to brush his lips along mine? He wouldn’t have done it in front of the girls anyway.
I needed to get my head out of the clouds and back to the reality that was my new life.
I pushed thoughts of Brooks away and popped into the SUV, forcing myself to pay attention to the road. I dropped the girls off, Alice happier than she had been that morning, Cameron still quiet. But each of the girls had walked off to a group of kids that seemed trustworthy. I didn’t know, but perhaps I should try to wheedle out the other kids’ names a little bit harder than I had been trying to. Was I supposed to talk to their parents? Were there supposed to be play dates? What did parents do?
With a sigh, I made my way back to my house and pulled into the driveway. Brooks’s truck was gone, and I let out a breath.
Well, at least I didn’t have to deal with that.
I made my way back inside and got to work. I had a deadline coming up and income to make.
My finances were fine, at least for now. But I needed to start the girls’ college funds over again since they had lost them in the will. And that meant everything just took longer than it should.
Thankfully the Wilders knew people and were brilliant themselves, and were helping me figure things out. But at some point, I needed to stop leaning on them for everything.
We were a party of three now, and even if that broke my heart and shattered me into a million pieces, I was just going to have to deal with it.
I got a good three hours of work in when the doorbell rang. I nearly knocked over my now cold coffee at the sound but made my way to the door.
Ava walked in, brows raised, and I froze.
“Hi.”
“You had sex.”
I blinked, my mind going in a thousand different directions. I wasn’t sure how this was possible.
“Did you hear?”
“I know your face after you have sex. And I was just here to see if you were okay after leaving the pizza thing early last night. However, what do you mean, did I hear? Oh my God. Did you have sex at Singles’ Night?”
“Well. Maybe. Um.”
“You know what, I think it’s time for a mimosa. Or wine. Or something.”
“Ava. I’m working.”
“Well, if you’re not going to tell me what happened, I’ll have to liquor you up to get it out of you.”
