Page 69 of Mr. Infuriating (Mister #1)
Gabe
Britt waved at me as I set the cooler and camping chairs down not far from where she sat with her mom. By the time I’d slid the cover off the chair that was universally understood to be mine , she stood at my side.
She nodded at the chairs on the ground and her voice squeaked with excitement when she asked, “Are Gretchen and Jake coming, too?”
“They are.”
“Awesome! I’ll be right back!”
She disappeared only to reappear a few seconds later with her chair that she set next to mine.
“Is it okay if I sit with you guys?”
“Of course, as long as your mom’s okay with it.”
“She doesn’t care.”
Yeah, that’s what Britt thinks. Hopefully I wouldn’t catch hell for it later.
As I set up the next chair, I asked, “How was school?”
She shrugged and pulled the cover from the remaining chair. “It was fine. I’m ready for summer.”
“Not much longer. How much time do you have left?”
“Just a little over a month! Twenty-four school days.”
“It’ll go fast.”
We sat down at the same time, and she replied, “I hope so. Do you think Gretchen and Jake will still be at your house by then?”
“No, they should be back in her house by next week.”
“Can I stay at your house this weekend then? ”
“I don’t think your mom would go for that, kiddo.”
“Can’t you just trade weekends?”
“I don’t think—”
She put her hands in a prayer position in front of her chest and gave me her best puppy dog eyes as she begged, “Please? I can help out with Jake. He loves me.”
That was true. The little dude seemed to hang on every word she said.
“How do you think your brother’s going to feel about switching weekends?”
“He can still come next weekend. He’s sleeping over at Will’s tomorrow night, and then I think his team is having a big slumber party at the coach’s house after their tournament on Saturday.”
“Fine, I’ll talk to your mom.”
“I already asked her. She said yes.”
“She said yes? Just like that?”
“Yep.”
I narrowed my eyes at my eleven-year-old. I had a hard time believing my ex would acquiesce without so much as an argument.
“I think she wants to be alone with Aaron.”
Okay, that made sense.
“I still need to talk to her about it.”
My daughter seemed unfazed when she lifted her shoulders. “Okay.”
“Bit-nee!”
I looked over to see Jake arching his back, trying to get out of Gretchen’s hold as she walked toward us.
When she was a few feet away, she relented and put him down, and he came toddling toward us with his arms open and a big smile on his face.
He didn’t stop until he had his arms wrapped around my daughter’s middle.
She hugged him back and exclaimed, “Hey, buddy!” then beamed at me over his head, as if to say, “Told ya he loves me.”
I stood to kiss Gretchen’s cheek but stopped short when I noticed her pull back and her body go rigid.
Yeah, you’re right. Probably not the best place for even innocent PDA.
I nodded subtly to convey I understood but still offered her a smile and wink as I told her, “Have a seat.”
She sat in the chair next to me, and I reached down to open the cooler and pull out a water bottle, which I handed to her, and an apple juice bottle that I handed to Jake.
Gretchen’s face lit up with a smile. I could become addicted to that smile.
“Thank you!” then she prompted Jake, “What do you say to Gabe?”
“Tank you!”
Just as Britt asked, “Where’s mine?” I produced a can of Sprite Zero and gave it to her.
Her sheepish grin when she took it told me she thought I’d forgotten about her.
“Thanks, Dad.”
I looked over at Gretchen when I reached back into the cooler for my Coke Zero and saw her watching me with a soft expression. She leaned over and cupped my face while she kissed my cheek, then whispered, “You’re pretty great.”
Popping the top of my soda as I leaned back in my chair, I murmured, “Yeah, I know,” with a cocky grin .
That prompted an eyeroll from her, but she was still smiling.
“I talked to Henry. He was able to make it over to your house today and says it’s an easy fix.”
“Oh… good. So, we can—”
I cut her off before she finished her question. “Unfortunately, the part is on back order everywhere he checked. He thinks he can have it by Wednesday or Thursday of next week.”
She bit the corner of her lip as she digested what I’d just told her.
“I can call my mom and see if we can—”
I interrupted her again.
“Don’t be silly. Jake has a bed at my place now, so he’s comfortable.” I felt the side of my mouth hitch. “And you have a comfortable bed. What’s another week?”
****
Gretchen
Right.
What’s another week watching him with his kids and my son and falling deeper in love with him? Letting him take care of us.
No problem.
Yeah, sure.
~ ~
Jake was perched on Gabe’s lap with a big smile as Gabe pointed out which player was Brayden.
Brittany chose that opportune time to yell, “Wahoo! Go, Brayden!” and Jake eagerly followed suit with his own encouragement. “Go, Bay-den!”
Brayden didn’t look over at us, but he wore a grin as he continued to warm up.
A pretty light-brunette with blonde highlights that framed her face approached us with a tight smile. Judging by Gabe’s sigh and “Oh, geez,” that he muttered under his breath, I had a pretty good idea who she was.
When she stood in front of us, he looked up and acted like he hadn’t noticed her until just that moment.
“Oh, hey! What’s up, Becky?” at the same time Brittany called out, “Hey, Mom!”
“I just wanted to come over and meet your guests that Brittany can’t stop talking about.” She held out her hand. “Hi, I’m Becky. Brayden and Brittany’s mom.”
I shook her hand and replied with a polite smile, “I’m Gretchen,” then tilted my head at my son, still in Gabe’s lap. “Jake’s mom.”
“It’s nice to finally meet you. The kids can’t say enough good things about you.”
I wasn’t sure if she was being genuine but then decided to give her the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise.
“They’re awesome kids. You and Gabe are obviously great parents.”
She stole a look at Gabe whose chest was doubling as a pillow for Jake, who stared at the woman like he was unsure of her .
“We try.”
Gabe replied, “Speaking of Britt… she said you’re okay with her switching her weekend so she can come tomorrow night?”
“Yeah, it’s no problem.”
“But Brayden is still going to come next weekend?”
“Britt can too, if she wants.” She cast a quick glance at me then sputtered, “I mean, if that works for you. I know you might have plans.”
“Any plans I have with Brayden can include Britt.”
“Of course.”
The referee blew his whistle to signal the start of the game, so she said, “I better get back to my seat.”
“It was nice meeting you.”
She nodded her head. “Likewise.”
When she was out of earshot, I heard Gabe remark to Brittany, “Well, I’m glad that’s out of the way.”
****
Gabe
I was replaying our interaction with Becky that went way better than I expected when I heard, “Well, hello, Mrs. Wainwright!”
Aw, fuck.
It was Will’s mom, Missy.
“Good to see you, Mrs. Lloyd.”
“It’s so nice of you to be here! I love it when teachers come to the games!”
Gretchen’s, “Go Lancers!” lacked enthusiasm .
Missy seemed to realize Gretchen was sitting with me and moved her finger back and forth between us. “How do you two know each other?”
“Ms. Kelly and her son are staying at my dad’s house,” Britt oh-so-helpfully supplied.
Missy’s eyebrows hiked and her gaze lingered on Jake in my lap. “Oh really? With Mr. Wainwright, too?”
Gretchen’s smile was placating. Obviously with Will in her class, she’d had dealings with Missy throughout the year.
“Mr. Wainwright and I are divorced.”
Missy’s voice went up an octave. “So, you two are dating now?” With her hand on her hip, she narrowed her eyes at me. “I thought you weren’t interested in dating anyone.”
“We’re not dating, Missy.”
“So why—”
None of your fucking business.
“It’s a long story, but rest assured, I’m still not interested in dating anyone or having children.”
“Well, if you change your mind…”
“Your sister is available. Yeah, I know. Thanks.”
Missy made a point of looking at Jake when she replied, “And she doesn’t have any baggage.”
Oh no, you didn’t.
I planted a kiss on the crown of Jake’s head and gave him a little squeeze.
“Are you hungry, buddy? I brought some snacks for you.”
He nodded enthusiastically at the same time Gretchen asked, “You did? ”
I reached into the cooler and pulled out two plastic storage containers. One filled with grapes, sliced apples, and orange slices and the other with crackers.
“Of course I did.”
Hoping I’d made my point that Jake was not “baggage,” I looked at where Missy was still standing and asked, “I’m sorry, did you say something?” as I removed the lids and held onto the containers so Jake could dig in.
With a fake smile plastered on her face, she replied, “No. Just looking forward to having Brayden over tomorrow night.”
I’ll bet you are.
I was going to have a conversation with my son about how to respond when Missy tried grilling him.
“Thanks for having him. He always has a good time at your house.”
“I’m glad. We think of him as our bonus son.”
That was a reminder I needed to be civil to this woman since Brayden spent so much time at her house. As annoying as I found her right now, I had to concede she was good to my kid.
“We love Will, too.”
Okay lady, how much small talk are we going to make?
Thankfully, the crowd roared, and she realized she’d just missed a big play.
“It was good seeing you, Gabe.” She finally acknowledged Gretchen again with a tight smile. “You too, Mrs. Wainwright.”
Gretchen mirrored Missy’s smile. “Always a pleasure.”
Once Missy walked away, I turned to Gretchen.
“I’m so sorry about that.”
“I think she was shocked to see me sitting with you.”
“She didn’t need to be rude.”
Gretchen smirked. “She just wanted to make sure you know what a catch her sister is.”
“Yeah, that’s never going to happen. I don’t know why Missy would want to set her sister up with me anyway; she’s said her sister is looking to get married and have kids. I’ve told her I don’t want more kids. But she’s under the illusion that I’ll somehow change my mind.”
“You will, Dad,” Brittany piped in. “For the right woman.”
****
Gretchen
I knew better than to think I was that woman.
~~
As the game drew to a close, I turned to Gabe and said, “Do you want me to bring Brittany home with me tomorrow?”
He furrowed his brow and frowned.
“Hmm.”
His response took me by surprise, and I hemmed, “I—I was just trying to save you a trip, but if you don’t want me to, I won’t be offended.”
“Why would you make a special trip, Dad? Ms. Kelly is going to the same place.”
He nodded, as if convincing himself.
“You’re right—it doesn’t make sense for me to make a special trip when you’re already there. Thank you. ”
“You or Becky will just need to call the office tomorrow and give permission for me to drive her.”
“I’ll take care of it.”