Roommate Arrangement (Divorced Men's Club #1)(9)

He has a point, but that reasoning goes against everything our parents taught us. You go to college, get your degree, and then use it. I checked off those steps. I also did the dating and marriage thing too though, and look at how that turned out for me.

Maybe I can take a time-out from being a regular adult and think through my choices. Not that I have many to consider. When it comes to sports and kids, there aren’t a huge number of options out there.

“I’ll think about it.”

It’s a nice day, so after a quick call to update our parents on the move, I spend most of the morning outside with the girls to give Marty and Lizzy some quiet time. I love my nieces like no one in the world, but they’re high-energy, and I couldn’t imagine doing this full time. Wrestling on the trampoline and piggyback rides are constant requests before we start working on building a fort. Aren’t little girls supposed to, I dunno, sit down quietly and play with dolls?

I laugh at the thought before grabbing the wrench that Soph is waving around as she runs past. I might not know much about small kids, but I do know that can’t be safe.

“This looks fun.” I glance up at the voice and find Beau stepping into the backyard. Soph’s attention is immediately diverted.

“Uncle Bo-Bo!” She flies across the yard and throws herself into his arms. I watch as Beau pretends to struggle to lift her and throws her over his shoulder.

“Oh, no, Soph disappeared! I hope the gremlins haven’t taken her!”

She cackles and squirms as Bridget jumps up and runs over to them.

“She’s right there.”

“Where?” Beau turns dramatically. “Here?”

I flop back in the grass, not able to stop watching the way he plays around with them. He has … an imagination, that’s for sure, and he doesn’t seem self-conscious about looking like an idiot. Not that he does, but the way he’s singing about Fair Knight Bridget could definitely come across as dorky. It doesn’t take long for him to have them giggling so hard they can’t speak.

“Fly!” he cries, throwing them both onto the trampoline. Then he zips up the side and walks over to drop down beside me.

“Thank fuck you’re here,” I say. “I never realized how old I was getting until I tried to keep up with a four-and six-year-old. I’m beat.”

His smile is almost shy. “They’re a lot, but I love visiting.”

“Me too.”

“At least when I visit, I get to leave again though.” His words are calm, but his hands are twisting constantly in his lap. “I hope you know that being out here is setting a precedent you’ll have to meet for the whole of your stay.”

I groan. “Tell me they’re not this full-on every day.”

He mimes locking his lips.

“Shit.” I let my eyes fall closed. “If I lie here and fall asleep, will they pretend I’m a dead monster from one of their games?”

“That won’t work.”

My eyes snap open because I didn’t realize I said that aloud, and the first thing I see is Beau’s eyes. So freaking blue even through his glasses and trained right on my face. “Well, dammit, then. Looks like you’ll need to tag team with me more often, Bo-Bo.”

“Tag …” He stares for a second, then gives a short laugh. “Only the, uh, girls get away with calling me that.”

“Aw, come on. I’m going through a divorce. I’m depressed and shit. Take pity on me.”

“If I thought you were actually, you know, depressed, I might. But you seem okay. To me at least.” He cringes. “I’m just hearing how that sounds, and it was insensitive, so I’m sorry if you actually are still sad about it all.”

“Eh, I am mostly over it. I mean, it still hurts, but I’m more mad than upset.”

“What did your friend say? Leveling up? Evolving?”

“Evolving?” I tease. “I’m not a Pokémon.”

“What? Ah, no, I—”

“Only teasing, Bo-Bo.”

“Moving on.” His face flushes, which is cute as hell. “Yeah, so I brought lunch. Only some sandwiches, but the girls will be okay out here for a bit.”

“Sandwiches sound incredible.” I jump to my feet and reach a hand out for Beau.

Then he does something odd.

He sucks in a sharp breath and pretends not to see it.

It’s not like I was implying he needed help. It was an automatic thing.

My stare doesn’t leave the back of his head as I follow him into the house, wondering what that was about.

Lizzy and Marty have already set the tray of sandwiches out on the table, and I collapse dramatically into one of the chairs. “Your kids are life stealers. I feel ten years older after this morning.”

Marty points to his forehead. “Where do you think I got these wrinkles?”

I laugh and reach forward to grab some food, not waiting on the others. The meat-and-cheese combo is exactly what I need, but until I find a gym, I have to be careful about what I eat. My job keeps me fit most of the time, and while I have a six-pack, I work damn hard for it.

“How did you sleep last night?” Marty asks, and I glance up to find the three of them looking at me.

I level him with a stare. “Not interested in an I-told-you-so, thanks.”