Page 54 of Nothing to This

“Shout?”Baxter hissed.“And you’re drinking wine with him?Is he trying to get you drunk?”

“We have work tomorrow,” she said.“We were having a drink before going to bed… our own beds.He’s drinking lemonade.It’s not like we’re getting drunk together.”

“So he’s limbering you up?”

“No, it’s been a stressful weekend; he’s being a friend.Geez, Baxter, is this the way it’s going to be from now on?You’ve met him.What more do you want?”

“To meet the kids.”

“They’re asleep,” she said.“Even if they weren’t, it’s too late for them to think about new people… and JD has a point.”

“What point?”

She folded her arms.“Weren’t we talking about it being wrong to introduce random people into their lives?It can’t be one rule for their dad and a different one for me.”

Please say JD wasn’t eavesdropping.

“You’re saying you won’t introduce me until we’re engaged?”

That was a terrifying leap.“They don’t take to new people and there are going to be a lot of changes in their lives now JD’s identity is public.”

“I can’t believe this.One word from him and you shut me down… again!”

Stepping toward him, she lowered her voice.“Screaming in the hallway won’t endear you to anyone.If you wake the kids, you’ll scare them, piss me off, and make an enemy of JD.None of those things will work out for you.”

He sneered.“Are you threatening me?”

“Threatening?No,” she said.“But I am saying I’m too tired for this.If you want to meet JD properly and have a conversation, I’ll set it up, but honestly…”

“Honestly, what?”

“We should… take a step back.”

“A step back?You’re breaking up with me?Here on the doorstep?”

“You came here uninvited,” she said.“What we had worked great.We had great fun.But this is the first real hurdle we’ve faced and it’s putting us in perspective.Our lives are too different.I can’t have fights like this all the time.I can’t have my kids used as pawns, and I do not want you getting into a pissing contest with JD.”

Up until then, she’d never had to deal with any boyfriend competing with JD.Would this kind of reaction and conversation be part of every relationship she ever had from then on?

“I can’t believe this… I can’t believe you—”

Moving back, she opened the door some more, ready to retreat inside.“Go home, Baxter.”

“No, I—”

“No.”He tried to move forward, but she planted a hand on his chest.“You can’t come in here.Go home.”

“Rylee—”

“Goodnight, Baxter.”

Going into the apartment, she closed the door and locked it before he could think about doing something stupid like rushing in after her.

She hadn’t intended to break up with him.In truth, in the long run, freeing him from her orbit was a kindness, whether he believed it or not.

Bed was close by and it called for her to rest.Maybe the world would be lighter and make more sense in the morning… Judging by past experience, that was a helluva wish.

TWENTY