Meet Me Halfway(78)

Not to mention, had he really thought through the fact that being with me meant also being with my kid? That was a huge ass commitment for anyone.

I thought about my sweet, protective, sassy, oddball child, who was currently at a movie with his grandpa. I couldn’t imagine a single person who wouldn’t enjoy having him around, but I was a tad biased.

Did I want to see Garrett every day? Yes. I wanted to watch him and Jamie argue over video games and wrestle on the floor while Rugsy yapped at them. I wanted him to walk up behind me and kiss me sweetly while I cooked dinner or folded his clothes. I wanted to dote on him and be doted on.

Did I also want to strip his clothes off and see if he could back up his claim to have me seeing stars for the first time? Ab-so-fucking-lutely. Pun intended.

But as I’d learned long ago, life didn’t often work out as smoothly as envisioned. In fact, the train usually went off the rails a few times in the process.

Deciding it was in my best interest to change the subject, I rolled to the side until Layla was propped on my hip rather than my rear.

“He said he left Aaron in a porta-potty.”

She shifted forward toward my head, causing me to grunt and squish deeper into the couch. “As in, sat him on top of it or…”

“Or.”

“Oh my fucking God, that’s it. He’s husband material. I’m serious, I’ll take him if you won’t.”

I shoved her off me, laughing and throwing a pillow down on top of her. “Hearing that would break Rick’s heart.”

“Ugh,” she groaned, sliding onto the floor like a slug. Taking that as their official cue, the dogs leapt up, stepping all over her for snuggles and scratches.

Layla had been trying to gently break things off with Rick for a few days now, but the poor guy wasn’t getting the hint. She cared about him and enjoyed playing music both in and out of the sheets, but he just wasn’t passing the soulmate vibe check.

Rick had professed his love the last time she’d hinted at just being friends, and she was desperately trying to avoid breaking the claws out and scarring his lovesick heart for life.

I chuckled, not feeling the least bit sorry for her. She’d done it to herself, and it was only more proof that I shouldn’t jump into dating Garrett. Because if he broke things off, I already knew I wouldn’t recover.

The truth was, I’d rather feel a tinge of sadness every time I looked at him and couldn’t have him, rather than walk through life with a shattered heart.





It’d been an entire week since Garrett had kissed me, and we still hadn’t talked about it. In fact, we hadn’t really talked at all. He’d waved and asked me about my day the few times we’d bumped into each other outside, but that was it.

On Thursday, he’d even helped Jamie practice some goals out in the yard, but had turned him down when he invited him over for dinner.

I felt like in trying to save our friendship, I’d already ruined it. He’d said he’d back off, but I guess I hadn’t realized he’d also meant as friends as well.

I shifted on the bleacher, rubbing subconsciously at my chest, trying to soothe the ache that had settled in and wouldn’t leave. It was late morning, and Jamie’s game would be starting any minute. It was the first one I’d had to attend alone, and I was feeling a little sorry for myself.

Layla had taken a gig to play music at a farmer’s market in a neighboring town this weekend, and my parents were at some kind of fundraiser for my dad’s work. I was whinier about it than Jamie was.

We’d all made plans to have a late lunch together later so he could tell them how it went. He’d asked me twice already if I knew whether Garrett was coming. I hadn’t been able to give him an answer.

I rubbed harder, wishing I lived in one of those fantasy worlds where people could turn their emotions off. When compared to powers like flying, super strength, or speed, I’d take emotional control every time.

Huddling deeper into the blanket I’d finally remembered to bring; I propped my feet on the bleacher in front of me and rested my head on my knees. I closed my eyes and crossed my arms over my face, separating myself from the world.

To anyone looking at me, I probably resembled a woolly cocoon. Too bad I’d be the same exhausted woman when I emerged.

Laughter sounded to my left, followed by the vibrations of someone walking across the bleacher I was sitting on. “Is that you under there, Madison?”

I shot up, nearly tipping backward into the foot space behind me. My blanket puddled around my waist, and I looked up to see Michael smiling down at me.

“Oh. Good morning, Michael.”

“Cold?” He stepped closer, lowering to sit next to me. I grabbed the edges of the blanket, shuffling to the side even though he already had more than enough room to sit.

I huffed a laugh I dearly hoped didn’t sound as fake as it felt. The idea of small talk was already pulling on the last strings of my energy, and we’d only started.

“A little. Just waiting for the game to start.”

He pointed toward the boys huddled up on the field, “Looks like they’re getting ready to run out there now.”

I made do with nodding.

“Do you mind if I sit here, or are you waiting for someone?”

I bit the inside of my cheek at his obvious fishing. He might as well have waved a rod and worm around, but I couldn’t blame him. The last time we’d spoken, Garrett had swept in like a tidal wave, whisking me away.