Abruption (10 page)

“What if I do?”

“Still a question.”

“Blunt
and
stubborn.”

“What’d you expect?”

Good question. I had no clue what to expect from this woman. That was the issue. I’d been far from hospitable, and she’d taken my kid to lunch, for God’s sake. I answered, “Dinner.”

“Dinner?” Her eyes silently questioned my intentions. My invitation took her by surprise. Made two of us. “Okay, deal.”

“Deal?” Now I sounded like the goddamn echo.

Hair Gel guy briefly popped into mind, but if she wasn’t mentioning him neither was I. I could do high school, if need be. After all, it was just one dinner.

“I might be a little stubborn,” she pinched her two fingers together in front of her face, “which isn’t my fault, I might add. I’m Italian, and it’s genetic, but I’m also completely capable of being open-minded.”

I had absolutely nothing to say to that, because let’s be honest, there was no safe response. I addressed the matter at hand. “You’re off tomorrow?”

It was a rhetorical question—I knew full well she was. The front desk ladies loved me and were more than happy to oblige my inquiries, especially when I came by bearing gifts. The cinnamon rolls paid off.

“Actually, I’m covering for Cara tomorrow morning for a few hours
then
I’m off.”

So much for not being transparent.

“Maya’s got the kids. I’ll pick you up at seven.”

“Well, that doesn’t make much sense. I live in the Bronx, so I’ll head home, change, and come to you. That way you don’t waste Maya on travel time. Besides, then I can bring the kids a treat. Give me your phone.”

Bossy, blunt, and stubborn. The list was growing. Why was I doing this again? If I wanted to get laid there were half a dozen women I knew were up for it, no stress or strings. Yet I hadn’t accepted any of their offers.

Conceding, I handed her my phone. She tapped away and an unfamiliar ringtone whistled from her top scrub pocket. It took the self-control of a prizefighter to not zero in on her chest.

“I called myself, so we’re all good. Now I have your number and you have mine. When you get a chance later, text me your address. Still seven?”

I stopped to process the phone thing. Her eyebrow rose and she shifted her weight.

Time. Right. “Make it six. We’ll shoot for a drink before dinner. Kids will have eaten, and once they know you’re coming they’ll be crazy wound up. Give them time to chill after we leave before Maya puts them to bed.” I was thinking out loud, but she didn’t have kids so I probably made no sense.

“No, that’s perfect. But I wouldn’t tell them I’m coming. Plans change and disappointment is the worst.”

“Point taken. But hey, you’re not canceling on me already. And to think, I just got your number.” My lame ass half-flirt earned me
that
laugh again.

Nothing about this was a good idea, worse because we worked together. There was zero chance of it going anywhere. At least not for me. But right now, I didn’t care. The promise of hearing that laugh come from that face a few more times was worth all the uncomfortable encounters I’d have to endure after we tanked.

The elevator pinged, and Jules backed out with a ridiculous perky wave. “See you tomorrow, Dr. Hunter.”

The doors slid closed before I realized what happened.

Damn, I was in trouble. I couldn’t remember the last date I was on.

My phone vibrated with an incoming text.

Ciao :)

This was a seriously bad idea. I could already feel the water filling in around me.

“I’m coming to New York, darling. I miss my little Towhead and Goldilocks. It’s been too long.”

“Next weekend doesn’t work, they’re with the Goldmans.”

“That’s lovely. I’m sure Darla and Peter appreciate spending time with the children.” Just the mention of the
other
grandparents pushed her buttons. She couldn’t cover the sarcasm in her voice if she tried. My mother knew how to breathe through just about anything, it was her mantra, but she never understood how Britt’s parents lived fifteen minutes across town, yet saw the kids only once a month. A schedule
they
set up, by the way. Moot point. It was better for me.

“Then let me check the studio calendar, and I’ll book a flight for one of the upcoming weekends. Finn better not look too thin. Are you giving him those organic multivitamins I sent? They’re good for him, Guy. You should give them to Maxie also. What about kale, put it in their smoothies in the morning. I sent you the email with the eight superfoods. I hope you’re incorporating them into their diet.”

“Reina, did you forget the letters MD follow my name?” My mother loved when I called her by her first name. Not.

“Make fun all you want, but you know I’m right.” She joined the healthy eating bandwagon when I was in high school. These days her obsession bordered more on psychoses. “You know how much I love my little people. I only want them to be happy and healthy.”

“I know, Mom.” And I did.

“Well, I won’t keep you. FaceTime tonight?”

“Sounds good. I’ll have Maya have the kids call you before bed.”

“Why? Where will you be? You’re not on call again, are you? Guy Hunter, you take on too much. What’s going to happen if you get run-down? You need to focus on your energy center and find more balance.”

“Mom—”

“I’m serious, Guy. Between Maya, all of Finn’s private therapists, and Maxine’s preschool, New York is ridiculous. Stop being proud and let me help you. I can take out a mortgage on the house or the yoga studio …”

“Mom, how many times do I have to tell you? I’m good.” Because I was—at least financially. It took a few years and a shitload of moonlighting to climb out of the debt pile my wife left me with, but my practice was thriving, and the kids and I were living pretty comfortably now.

“Then why are you working tonight? You were just on call last night. Sleep is so important for your foundation.” She was relentless. My poor father, he must have been a saint.

“I’m not on call. I have a date.” I hoped that would shut her up, in the most loving son-shutting-up-mother way, but no dice.

“Oh honey, that’s wonderful!” She squealed like a baby pig, a sound she had never made and one I prayed she would never make again. “Finny is three now. It’s time you got back out there. You’re so handsome—a successful surgeon, an absolutely terrific dad, with two of the best children.”

“Mom. Relax. As much as I love the ego stroke, it’s dinner, not a proposal.”
And maybe a little after dinner exercise.

“It’s just that you haven’t mentioned dating anyone since … well, you know.”

The reminder was unnecessary, I knew all too well. As did Jules, thanks to my little man. Luckily she wasn’t weirded out. In fact, it didn’t faze her at all.

“I’m excited that’s all. I want more for you.”

I wasn’t going to lie—I was pretty stoked about tonight as well. But as for more, I had no expectations. Life stopped asking me what
I wanted
the day my wife left me alone to raise two kids.

I ended the call, entered Nana Reina’s tentative upcoming visit into my calendar, and scrolled my texts.

FYI, I skipped lunch.

You might need to order your own pie tonight:)

JuJu. Everything down to the name she programmed into my phone was unexpected.

And I was pretty sure that was her point.

So screwed.

“JuJu, JuJu’s here. Maxie, JuJu’s here,” Finn bellowed when the doorbell rang.

For a while I debated even having her come up, not wanting to confuse the kids or give them the wrong idea. But when Maya casually asked about my plans for the night, I slipped and that’s all it took.

“Go ahead, Max, open the door.” As if she was waiting for my permission. Max flung the door open overly excited and then hid behind my leg. “You remember Jules from pizza, right?”

“JuJu. JuJu. JuJu,” Finn kept chanting from the couch.

Hell, I didn’t even get that reception when I walked in the door. Then again I never walked in holding a gallon tub of what I could only guess to be the water ice she’d mentioned a few times.

“Well, you all know how to make a girl feel super special. What a welcome.” Jules ducked down to find my hiding shadow. “Hey, pretty girl, did you braid those pigtails yourself? Can you teach me?”

Max giggled and whispered in her shy voice, “Finny’s so happy you’re here.”

“Me too!” Jules was either shooting for an Oscar, or she was genuinely excited to be standing in my apartment with my two kids going ape shit over her.

Whichever, Max bought it and stepped out from behind my legs, rambling her four-year-old stream of consciousness. That didn’t take long.

“You know his legs get really tired, Daddy says it’s because he’s been walking a lot, Daddy lets him make videos on his iPad when he’s sleepy. Finny made one with me dancing and singing with my dolly. What’s in your bucket? Is that for us?”

“Wow, how fun, you’ll have to show me his movies sometime. Let’s get over to that couch so I can give Finny a squeeze, and then you can take a peek at your surprise.”

“Finny, we’re getting a surprise,” Max sang and skipped at the same time.

Jules straightened to full height, which was a good head shorter than my own, and her eyes found mine. She blinked a few times and her cheeks pinked. My own pulse spiked, perusing her tight frame that was always hidden under her kid friendly scrubs. Even with a winter coat, her fitted jeans and tall boots were painfully sexy. So much so, I casually shifted to readjust my zipper.

“Thanks for coming here. Think they’re excited.”

“What happened to not telling them and avoiding disappointment?” she asked, leaning into my ear. “You’re a sucker.” Her sweet scent and warm breath sparked another signal straight to my dick. It had been a while.

Passing me, she sat on the floor next to the couch where Finn was lounging with his leg braces dangling off the arm. She held up her surprise and crisscross applesauced (yes, I thought that). Didn’t mean I wasn’t admiring her thighs and ass in those jeans too.

“Yemonnnnn yiiiiiccceeesssss!” Finn shouted, excitedly knocking a brace to the floor. Jules leaned over to pick it up, her coat opening to reveal a sliver of skin.

Ices, cold, winter.

We needed to leave. Sooner, rather than later.

“Did I hear someone say lemon? That’s my favorite too.” Maya walked out of the bathroom where she was cleaning up after bath time, aka splash hour.

“Hey, Maya.” Jules smiled and greeted my sitter, handing her the infamous water ice container. “There’s plenty to go around. Should we get some bowls?”

“I’ll take care of it. You two go, have fun. We’re good here. No need to rush back.”

I thanked Maya and Jules stood up. Finn grabbed onto her leg from the edge of the couch. “I’ll see you soon, handsome. Promise me that next time, you’ll give me a full report on the yumminess of my dad’s lemon ice. He’s gonna call and ask if you liked it. I told him you were the king.”

“Finny is the prince and I’m the princess.” I didn’t have to worry about my daughter not finding her calling. She was destined to be a teacher with her incessant correcting.

“Well, that sounds even better, Maxie girl.” Jules tickled under her chin, distracting my peanut enough she missed the
Maxie
. I couldn’t believe it.

“Be good for Maya. See you in the morning. Who loves ya to the moon and back?” I kissed them both on the forehead and closed the door behind us.

“Tough, huh?” She must have noticed my unconscious release of air. Tough leaving my children—always. Tough stepping out of my comfort zone—that was to be determined.

We stepped into the brisk night. Jules fiddled with her scarf then pulled her hair out from under her coat and let it go. The brown silky strands fell right below her shoulders and framed her face. I’d never seen her hair down. She always tied it back in a band or clip. That was familiar and what I had become accustomed to, and in my warped testosterone brain it indicated a fling or a casual fuck.