Unfinished Ex (Calloway Brothers, #2)(93)

Weekday anchors put in a lot more time. I’d be expected to do more traveling. We’d hardly see each other.”

“But if you go back to Oklahoma, or Detroit, or Indianapolis, or wherever, we’d never see each other then either. At least with this job, you’d be living here. We’d be together in the same house. In the same bed.”

“You misunderstand, Jaxon. It’s not just that I’m turning down the XTN job. I’m not taking any job. I’m going to stay right here with you, and we’ll see each other all the time.”

I pace, confused. “You’re quitting?”

“For now.”

“You’re kidding me.”

“I’ll go back to work someday. When she’s older.”

“Someday.” It comes out like a curse word. “Nicky, you have momentum now. In a few years, nobody will remember the woman who filled in at XTN for a few months. You’ll have to start over at someplace like WRKT. And who knows if you’ll ever be given a break like this again. This choice may determine the rest of your career.”

“It’s done. I’ve already decided.” She pulls one of the flowers out of the arrangement and studies it, then looks up at me. “I thought you’d be happy about this. This is everything you wanted—me, a child, and us here together.”

“If that’s what you really think, then you don’t know me very well. And you sure as hell aren’t the woman I fell in love with all those years ago. The one who not only chases storms but her dreams.

I’m not saying staying home with kids isn’t a noble calling—it is. But you and I both know it’s not your calling. If you give this up, what kind of message are you sending to your daughter—to all the daughters of the world?”

“It’s what’s best for us.”

“What’s best for us is that both of us be in fulfilling careers that make us happy. The rest will work itself out.”

“Like I said, it’s been done.”

“You can’t see the forest through the trees, can you? This is so screwed up. Don’t you understand what this will do to us? I know you, Nicky. Weather is your life. You’ll never be happy without it.

Imagine yourself sitting on this couch watching Tom and Makenna day in and day out. You can’t honestly sit there and tell me you won’t long for it. And that longing will turn to resentment. Toward me. Maybe even toward our little girl. You can’t do that to her. To us.” I motion to the flowers. “You can still take the job. They still want you.”

“I’ve made my decision, Jaxon.”

I cross the room and whistle for Heisman. “And I’ve made mine.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning I refuse to be the person you come to resent. We did that once. Heisman and I are going for a walk. I’d like for you not to be here when we get back.”

“You want me to leave?”

“Yes, Nicky. I want you to leave. Doesn’t feel so good to be blindsided, does it?”

I grab my coat and am out the door before she can reply.

“Don’t look at me like that,” I tell Heisman. “What she’s doing is wrong, and you know it.”

We head back to the park, even though we were there twenty minutes ago. I find a stick, then sit on a bench and throw it to him. The irony of the situation is not lost on me. Two years ago, she left because I couldn’t deal with her job aspirations. And now I’m asking her to leave because she can’t.

The crazy thing is, I know she wants it. I get that with the baby and all, it complicates things. But if she doesn’t do this, she will regret it. I’m one hundred percent certain.

“Hey, Jaxon.”

Eric and Calista wander up. Heisman trots over and showers attention on her.

“You look like a steamroller hit you,” Eric says. “Only one thing that could mean. Trouble in paradise?”

I throw the stick. Heisman doesn’t chase it. He tucks his head into Calista’s lap when she sits on the bench opposite mine. “Nice to see you up and around,” I say, ignoring Eric’s spot-on observation.

“How’s my kid? You keeping him or her warm?”

“Nice and toasty,” she says, rubbing her stomach. Her coat falls off her shoulder when she partially raises her arm in the sling. “At least they expect a full recovery. With some physical therapy, I’ll be able to cradle this little one in both arms come May.”

May. Every time I think of it, it hits me how much my life will change. Two babies. By two women. Sometimes I can’t even wrap my mind around it. It seems absurd, yet somehow, I’ve noticed myself becoming excited about it. All of it. Or I was until an hour ago. “I’m glad to hear it. I saw them working at your house today. The tree is out. When will the work be done?”

“After the holidays.” She gazes at Eric. “I don’t mind. It’s been nice staying at his place and having someone at my beck and call.”

“Why not make it permanent then? Your house is plenty big enough.”

Eric gives me a brooding stare. “Way to steal my thunder and beat me to the punch, man.”

“What punch?” Calista asks.

“I was going to wait until Christmas Eve to ask, but since Dudley Do-Right here spoiled it, I was thinking maybe we should move in together. I know it’s only been a few days, but it feels right.”