Nick let out a loud laugh. “All the stuff, huh? Yeah, I’ll bring them home.” He didn’t think about what he was doing. Just let himself feel as he leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to Bryce’s lips. “I’ll see you tonight—”
“Nick?”
Nick tensed at the female voice he would know anywhere. He’d ignored a few phone calls from her in the past month or so, not wanting another episode like they’d had the last time they’d spoken. He knew there wasn’t a chance at avoiding Jill this time.
He turned toward her. “Jill. Hey.” His eyes darted to the man at her side, the one she’d had an affair with during their marriage. Nick and Jill’s eyes locked, neither of them turning away.
It was her fiancé who spoke first. “Hi, I’m Shelton.” He held a hand out to Bryce.
“Bryce.” They shook hands.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Shelton replied.
“This is my...” he stumbled on the word for just a moment, before saying, “boyfriend. Bryce, this is my ex-wife, Jill.”
It took Jill a moment, but then she grabbed Bryce’s extended hand and shook it. “Shopping for lawn furniture?” There was a soft unease in Jill’s voice. Bryce wouldn’t know her well enough to hear it. Maybe Shelton did or didn’t, but Nick did.
“Yeah. He thinks we need two.”
“We do need two,” Bryce responded.
“How’s your mom?” Jill asked.
Nick felt Bryce tense beside him. “She’s my mom.”
He could have sworn Jill looked sad at that. Not because of how things had been with her and his mom, but maybe because she knew how things must be going with Bryce and his mom.
“She loves you. That’s the most important thing.”
“It is,” Nick responded. He couldn’t believe he was standing here talking to Jill and her fiancé while he was with Bryce—the man he loved.
Jill paused a moment, still watching him, and Nick knew she had something to say. He waited it out, until finally she spoke. “I’m sorry, Nick. For everything. I know I was wrong. I know I didn’t speak to you the way I should have to explain what I was feeling. My therapist and I have been discussing that a lot. I didn’t treat you the way you deserved to be treated, and I know that now.”
No, she hadn’t, but then, he thought maybe he hadn’t always been as perfect as he used to think. He didn’t cheat, no, but feeling what he felt for Bryce, and remembering what he felt for Jill, there was no comparison. Maybe things just went the way they were meant to go. “It’s okay. We were young when we got married. We hadn’t really lived yet.”
“That’s not an excuse.”
“No, it’s not, but it’s still okay.”
She smiled and her chin began to quiver, as though she might cry. He was proud of her. She looked good, looked like she was really trying to make some changes.
“We should let you guys get back to it.” Jill took Shelton’s hand. “Good luck, and...” she paused, and then added, “You look happy, Nick. Maybe happier than I’ve ever seen you.” Jill looked at Bryce. “We were standing back there for a few minutes before you guys heard us. Good luck on the house hunt. And I agree, if your family is as large as Nick’s, I’d buy two.”
Jill and Shelton took a few steps before she turned around. “We didn’t take the easy road, but I think things turned out the way they were supposed to.” And then she walked away.
“You okay?” Bryce asked when they were gone.
Nick nodded. “I am. And she’s right. We’re both where we’re supposed to be. Come on, I’ll buy these with you, and then we’ll get them in your truck before I go to work.”
They bought the furniture and were on their way out when Nick’s phone vibrated. He pulled it out of his pocket, saw Mom on the screen, and hit ignore.
“Who was that?” Bryce asked.
“My mom. I’ll call her when I get to work.” They said their goodbyes and Nick was on his way. They were busy at the restaurant all afternoon and evening. It was later than usual when he got out. He almost forgot Bryce’s potatoes, but made sure to grab them before he got some paperwork out of his office, and then headed home.
They’d started staying at Nick’s most of the time just because he had all his kitchen supplies there.
Nick closed the door to the house right as a naked Bryce stopped in the bedroom doorway. “Oh, hey. I just got out of the shower. You’re late. Were you guys busy? Oh, did you get my potatoes? Hell, I can’t believe I used to think those potato skins at the bar were good. I could live off yours.”
