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chapter forty-two

Graham

“ Y ou’re telling us this whole time you’ve been standing up there talking about hot dogs with us, you were then running off to bang Jillian Taylor from WWTV?”

It appeared the Woodvale scandal had reached Bedford and beyond, and my students wouldn’t talk about anything else. I couldn’t really blame them.

“Isn’t she like twenty-six?” Nia asked.

“She’s thirty,” I said, leaning onto both hands at the lectern. “Anyway, who wants to get back to our discussion about fact-checking?”

Nobody did.

“Are you the reason she cried on TV a couple weeks ago?”

That was enough. With a sigh, I closed my laptop and unplugged the HDMI cord. “All right, that’s it for today. Let’s try this again on Monday without everyone trying to dissect my personal life, sound good?”

There were a few groans, but most of them were just happy to get out of there early on a Friday. It only took a couple minutes for the room to clear out.

Only Reese remained. He approached me as he shoved his beat-up notebook in his backpack. “I heard there’s going to be an open reporter position at the Woodvale Times ,” he said.

I stiffened for a second. “Yeah, there will be.” Meghan was permanently settling into the editor role, and they needed someone to fill her old spot.

“I think I’m gonna apply,” Reese said, his voice shaky but determined. “I know I don’t have a degree yet, but maybe my writing will speak for itself. And if I can put you down as a reference, maybe I’ll have a shot.”

It took everything in me not to laugh. The thought of Xander having to interact with this guy almost broke me, but I kept my expression neutral.

“Reese, you’re not quite ready for a job like that yet.

One day, yes, but you should focus on school for now.

And trust me, you don’t want me as a reference. Not with everything going on.”

Reese nodded, but I could tell he wasn’t discouraged. “I might still try. Worth a shot, right?”

“...Yeah,” I said, packing my laptop away. “Best of luck to ya.”

“Thanks.” He slung his backpack over his shoulder. “What about you?”

I looked up. “What about me?”

“You just do this part-time, right? What are you going to do for money now?”

God, these college students and their total disregard for boundaries. I huffed a laugh and zipped my laptop bag. “I’m not sure, Reese, but I’ll figure something out.”

“When I was scrolling through Indeed the other night, I saw this listing for a regional reporter gig at the IndyStar . It sounded amazing. They want a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, though. But what about that for you?”

I paused longer than I meant to, knowing I had that very application half-filled out already. Xander still didn’t know they were interested in him for that position yet, because I hadn’t told him.

“Oh, wow,” I said, injecting some fake cheer into my voice as I gathered the rest of my things. “I’ll have to look into that.”

“You definitely should go for it. And if you get it, don’t forget about us little guys,” Reese joked, adjusting the strap of his backpack.

“Students like you are impossible to forget, Reese,” I said, giving him a hard pat on the back. “All right, I’ve got to lock up the classroom and get home to my kids. And my girlfriend.”

Fuck , I loved saying that out loud.

By the time I got home, Caleb, Olivia, and Richie were already in the living room debating about where to order pizza from. “I’m the pregnant one,” Olivia was saying with her arms crossed, “so I think that gives me final say.”

I laughed as I unbuttoned my sleeves and began rolling them up. “I think we may have to give in to her, guys,” I said, and Richie and Caleb eventually caved.

“Then Moretti’s and Final Destination it is,” Olivia said with a smile, picking up the remote from the coffee table. “I’ll find out where it’s streaming.”

For a moment, I stood there and stared at the three of them as they spread out on the furniture like they were in for the night. “You all actually want to stay in? With me?”

It almost felt too good to be true, but they nodded and shrugged, like this was exactly where they wanted to be.

I cleared my throat, looking at Richie. “Are you staying the night, then?” I asked.

He shot Olivia a nervous glance before looking at me. “We weren’t sure if that was allowed.”

I slipped my hands into my pockets. “It’s fine. Just don’t give me a reason to regret saying that, alright?”

Richie began to smile. “Thanks, Dad.”

There was no time to react to him calling me Dad—now for the second time—because Olivia stood up and said, “Isn’t Jill next door? Do you think she’d want to join us?”

I paused. I’d planned on stopping by the Gardners’ after the movie to see her and maybe have a beer, but perhaps inviting her over here wasn’t a bad idea. I wouldn’t pressure her, of course, if she wasn’t ready to come into my world that way. She hadn’t even met Caleb yet.

“I can ask her,” I said, pulling my wallet out of my pocket. I handed Olivia my debit card. “Order the pizza while I’m over there. But, uh, remember that we’re on a budget now. Don’t go overboard.”

“Are we too poor for cinnamon sticks?” Caleb asked.

All I could do was laugh. “Get the cinnamon sticks. I’ll be right back.”

It looked like the weekly gathering at the Gardners’ was in full swing, judging by the number of cars parked on the street.

I walked right over to the backyard and unlatched their gate.

I was welcome with a chorus of heys. Jill, sitting in a patio chair, set her drink down on a side table and stood up.

“I thought you were having pizza with your kids tonight?”

“I am,” I said, speaking loud over the thumping Hozier song as I glanced around at the group scattered around the patio. “But Olivia suggested I ask you to join us. If you’re hungry, of course, and if you don’t mind watching a scary movie.”

Everyone’s eyes were on me. I couldn’t see them all from where I stood, but I could feel their stares. I was sure they’d all heard the news by now, that Jill and I had been seeing each other behind closed doors this whole time. Now they were witnessing it.

“You guys really want me at family pizza night?” Jill asked, and then she bit her bottom lip like she was trying not to smile too hard.

“Please,” I said, looking her in the eyes so she knew I meant it, and the noise around us faded into the background.

Jill turned toward Meghan. “Will you hate me if I bail?”

“I’ll hate you if you turn down free pizza,” Meghan said before taking a sip from her margarita glass, making the people closest to us laugh.

I spotted Xander by the back door, beer in hand, talking to Abigail. Jill walked over to me, but I touched her lightly on the back and said, “Hang tight for a second. I need to talk to Xander.”

She nodded, clearly confused, but I’d explain later.

I made my way over to him. “Hey, can we talk inside for a sec?”

He gave a quick nod, glancing at Abigail before turning around to open the sliding glass door. I followed him into the cool kitchen, pulling the door shut behind me. Xander backed against the island, sticking one hand in his pocket, the other one clutching his beer. “What’s this about?”

I didn’t waste any time. “There’s an opening at the IndyStar , a regional position covering the southern half of the state. While we were in New York, a buddy of mine who works there pulled me aside and specifically asked about you.”

Xander just stared at me in silence.

“If you apply, I’m sure it’d be yours. No question. They want you.”

“Why the hell aren’t you going after it?” he asked, furrowing his brows.

I let out a heavy sigh. “I won’t lie. I’m considering throwing my hat into the ring, but I had to tell you. You’re their top pick.”

“You have more experience.”

“Eh.” I made a face, cocking my head to one side. “Maybe. You’re a better writer.”

Xander didn’t argue with that. He dropped his gaze to his beer, frowning. “I’m not going to apply.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’ve been thinking about moving back to Chicago.”

My lips parted in stunned silence, and I took a step back. That was the last thing I’d expected to hear him say.

“Don’t tell anyone,” he quickly added. “I haven’t fully decided on it yet, but I definitely don’t need a job like that tying me down around here. I need out.”

“Why?” I asked instinctively, but he didn’t answer. He only sighed, staring past me at the patio door. I looked over my shoulder, following his gaze to the back of Abigail's head as she raked her fingers through her long, red hair.

Ah.

I turned back to Xander and studied his face, understanding exactly why he couldn’t stay.

Xander pushed away from the counter and began to walk past me, stopping when his shoulder lined up with mine.

“I, uh… hope you get that job. You were a talented reporter before you became a shitty CEO,” he muttered, his eyes fixed ahead, almost like he was embarrassed to be almost complimenting me like this.

“Thank you, I think?”

“Whatever.” He slid open the door and walked into the backyard without another word. I took a few seconds to reel from that conversation before I reentered the backyard after him, finding Jill leaning against one column of the pergola as she listened to Owen finish a story.

“So anyway,” he was saying, “that’s why we’re taking off for a couple of weeks.

Just going to enjoy the open road to get our mind off things until she has to get back for the new school year.

” As I walked up, Sarah slipped her hand in his, and he gave her a faint smile before kissing her on the forehead.

When Jill noticed me beside her, she held out her hand, and I took it in mine like it was the most natural thing in the world. Something squeezed on my heart when she smiled at me. I could barely handle how beautiful she looked beneath the patio lights, or the fact that, somehow, she was mine.

I stared at her like a lovesick idiot the whole way between the two houses, making her laugh. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

I smirked. “Just waiting to see if the sprinklers turn on again. Thought maybe I’d get lucky and see you soaking wet like the first time you came over.”

She giggled, giving me a hard shove. I caught her wrist and turned her push into an embrace, yanking her toward me and wrapping my arms around her waist. She didn’t fight it.

She settled into me, putting her hands on my chest. I lowered my mouth to kiss her, right there between the Gardners’ loud air conditioning unit and the crooked dogwood tree in my side yard.

She kissed me back, gripping my necktie to anchor herself to me, and I felt the rest of the world fade like background noise.

When we pulled apart, she whispered, “I missed you.”

I smiled, my mouth still hovering an inch away from hers. “You missed me already? We just had dinner last night.”

I’d taken her to an Italian restaurant in the next town over, far enough from Woodvale to avoid nosey stares and judgmental looks.

Dinner turned into a slow drive through the country, which turned into me pulling off onto some quiet gravel road near the river, where she ended up in my lap.

Our dessert had absolutely nothing to do with tiramisu.

She made me feel like I was twenty again.

Which was a miracle, considering I would be a grandpa in a matter of months.

“I always miss you,” she said, and I kissed her again to let her know I felt the same way.

We rounded the corner toward the front of the house, her hand still tucked in mine as we climbed the porch steps.

I opened the door, and the chattering inside the living room came to a stop as the kids turned toward us.

Jillian slipped out of her sandals by the front door, greeting them with a shy smile.

“Hey! You came!” Olivia clapped in excitement, coming over to us with Richie.

“I never say no to pizza,” Jill joked, tucking her hair behind her ears.

I cleared my throat, suddenly remembering I needed to do some introductions. “Jill, this is Olivia’s boyfriend, Richie.”

Richie stepped forward to shake her hand. “Nice to meet you,” he said, his eyes locked on her face like he was afraid to let them drift any lower. Smart.

“And this kid over here is my son, Caleb,” I said, pointing at the loveseat, where he was all stretched out with a Minecraft blanket. He stared at her with curiosity and gave her a little wave.

“It’s so great to finally meet you, Caleb,” she said, one of the rare times I caught a flicker of nervousness in her voice.

I watched her lick her lips like she was searching for something—anything—to say that would make him like her.

“I like your blanket. Do you have a Nintendo Switch, by any chance?”

Caleb perked up a little. “Yeah?”

“Me too,” Jill said, crossing her arms. “I tried to play Minecraft once, but those green guys kept blowing up my house.”

“Creepers?”

“Yeah,” Jill said with a laugh. “I hate those things.”

Caleb cracked a smile, and I could tell he accepted her. For a second, I pictured him sitting beside her on the couch someday, showing her how to build a Minecraft house that could withstand a creeper explosion.

I was getting ahead of myself, though.

By the time the pizza arrived, we’d dimmed the lights and Olivia had the movie queued up on the TV. I set the boxes on the coffee table in front of the sectional and grabbed a slice before sinking down beside Jillian, our knees touching as Olivia clicked the remote to start the movie.

“ Final Destination , huh?” Jill asked, looking up from her pepperoni pizza. Her toes curled against my thigh on the cushion. “Is that the movie with the logs on the back of the truck?”

“You’re thinking of the second one,” I said. “Have you never seen these movies?”

Jill shook her head. “No. I was just a little girl when they came out.”

I froze with a slice of pizza halfway to my mouth as I did the math in my head, realizing she was, indeed, a little girl while I was watching this movie at the local cineplex with my idiot friends. Before I could stop it, I let out a hearty laugh, bowing my head down in pure disbelief.

“What on earth’s the matter with you?” Jill asked, laughing with me even though she didn’t know what was so goddamn funny.

“I’m just so old ,” I answered, and it made her laugh even harder, right along with the kids.

Glancing around that room, I took a moment to soak this in. I remembered that night all those weeks ago when I sat all alone on the deck, listening to the laughter float over from the other side of the fence.

Now, surrounded by my kids, my girlfriend—and God help me, Richie —I couldn’t imagine a better night than this.

It didn’t matter that my future was hanging in the balance or that I didn't know where I’d be working a month from now.

If this was what I had to come home to at the end of a long week, it was all I ever wanted, anyway.