Page 48 of Bad Love

“Why were you sitting onhim?”

Million-dollarquestion.

“Sometimes friends do that. I didn’t mean to do that when you were cominghome.”

“Is it going to happenmore?”

“No.” Absolutelynot.

He nodded. “Okay.”

“Are you all right?” I askedhim.

“I’m not sure.” My breath stuck in my chest as Rory’s brows pulled together, his gaze dropping to the table. “Mitchell spent the whole walk home telling me about his violin lessons. Promise I don’t ever have to takemusic?”

I breathed a sigh of relief. “Promise.”

I’ve never introduced my son to a man. Mostly because I’ve never dated seriously sinceBlake.

This was a blip. A moment ofweakness.

There’s no way Rory’s going to see Hunter and me kissing again because Hunter and I will not be kissingagain.

Not at myplace.

Notanywhere.

Notever.

Even if all I can think of when I close my eyes at night is the feel of his hard body under mine, the scrape of his tongue ring down my needythroat.

I force my attention back to the park. “Have you thought about what you want to do for the talentshow?”

“Like drive thesailboat?”

“It needs to be something you can do on astage.”

He cocks his head. “I could play ‘Which of these things is not like theother?’”

I did see Nadine at before- and after-school care drop-off the other day. She didn’t mention what she’d walked in on, but she was stiff as our conversation turned to tickets. She said the gym would be set for two hundred to outdo last year’s goal of one hundred fifty. And we were expecting fifty children toparticipate.

Even if every kid has two parents and a sibling, that doesn’t get the gym full. Who the heck is supposed to be going to thisthing?

But I’d forced a smile and brainstormed even as the blood drained from myhead.

She probably thinks I drag random hot guys to my house, then accost them dressed like a house cleaner while my son watches television in the sameroom.

Now there’s no way I’m crawling back to her with less than two hundred ticketssold.

I usher Rory to the spot where he collects his boat and remote, then we stroll back along the water’s edge. Rena’s supposed to meet us soon, but before she can, my phonerings.

"Mom? It’s so nice to hear from you.” We usually talk after dinner, and I’m the one to call her. “Everythingokay?”

“Yes, Kendall. Everything’sfine.”

Before she can launch into typical catch-up, I pounce. “Great. I wanted to ask if you’ll come see the school talent show. I’m helping organize it, and Rory’s going to be init."

“Oh. What’s hedoing?”

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