Thankfully, Hannah lets me off early on Friday so I have time to run home and meet Pete before we go together to pick up Jade from school. This will be the first weekend that I won’t be with her and as much as I can’t wait to spend it with Reed being an adult and doing only adult things, I’m going to miss her.

“I don’t want to see him,” my mom says as I run around the house, trying to clean it up.

“You don’t have a choice. I wasn’t going to drop her off at his parents.”

I pick up all the handicap bathroom stuff I bought to have installed and throw it into my room. Another day.

“Your aunt wants to meet Reed,” she changes the topic again.

“She will when things are a little farther down the road.”

She sits in her chair, People magazine half opened, her reading glasses on the tip of her nose. “She lives in Montana, and she’s coming to visit this weekend. She won’t see Jade until Sunday. The least you can do is have Reed come to dinner, too.”

“Mom,” I sigh. “Can we talk about this after?” I straighten all her magazines and books into neat piles on the bookcase. The woman refuses to read on a digital device. Claims it’s not the same as holding the words in your hands.

“Sure, but I’m not sure I want Pete to set foot in this house.”

“Do it for Jade.”

“Jade should know what an ass her father is. She’s going to find out when she’s older and it’s going to break her heart.” She flips the page of her magazine.

“So, your advice is for me to break her heart now?”

She peeks over the edge of her magazine and blows out a breath. “I suppose you’re right, I just hate all the pain he’s caused you. It’s going to be all I can do not to kick him in the nuts.”

“Mom!”

She closes the magazine and throws it on the table I just organized. “I hope Reed kicks his ass.”

“No one’s kicking anyone’s ass.”

The doorbell rings and my mom slides to the edge of the recliner, ready to answer it.

“I got it.” I wave her off.

She rolls her eyes, grabs the magazine again and buries her head behind it. Great, this should be wonderful.

I open the door to find Pete in his relaxed look. Gray jeans, white t-shirt with a black coat slung over the top and open. For a second, I remember how excited I used to be when he’d show up at my parents’ house to pick me up. How I thought he was the best guy ever and I’d love him forever.

“Pete,” I say, trying to keep the disdain from my tone.

“Vic.” He steps over the threshold before I actually invite him in. Typical. “Where’s Jade?” He looks around and spots my mom in the recliner. “Diane, nice to see you.”

She peels back the corner of her magazine. “Jackass,” she regards him, and he glances at me, annoyed.

I shrug.

“It’s been two years, Diane.”

“Not long enough,” she singsongs, hiding once again behind the magazine.

I move to put on my coat. “I figured we’d walk down there to pick her up together. I have something I want to talk to you about.”

“If you changed your mind about this weekend, I don’t want to hear it. I haven’t seen her in months. My family is expecting her—”

I cut him off with my hand. “That’s not it.”

“Cool your jets, Rico Suave,” my mom chimes in from behind her magazine.

Pete sets those brown eyes my way, asking what the fuck?

“Okay, Mom, you’ve made your point,” I say.

She shuts the magazine a second time. “I’m not sure I have. If Pete has a few hours, I’m sure we can rehash all the reasons why I think he’s a piece of shit.”

“Mom,” I sigh.

“I’m not sure what you want from me, Diane.” Pete has his hands splayed out at his sides.

“I could send you an email detailing all your faults and suggestions on how to fix them.”

“Great, can I do the same?” he snips.

I swivel Pete’s shoulders so he’s facing the door and ease him toward it. “We’re going to get Jade.”

“Uh-huh. Be careful, Chicago drivers aren’t so great. If Pete stumbles off the sidewalk, don’t go being a hero, Victoria.”

My shoulders fall, and I stare at my mom from behind Pete’s back with a look that suggests she lose the attitude.

“Always a pleasure, Diane.” Pete nods and opens the door.

“How very polite of you. Winnetka can teach you how to talk to people but seems to have failed on teaching you how to treat people.”

I shut the door and turn to find Pete already lighting a cigarette.

“Nope, not around Jade.”

He inhales. “After dealing with your mother, I deserve one.”

“Just don’t when you’re around her, okay?”

He exhales, and a puff of white smoke follows. “Sure. Whatever.” He shrugs.

He’s probably lying, but it’s not like he has her all the time.

“How far to school?” he asks.

“Just down the road. A couple blocks.”

We step inline, him taking the street side of the sidewalk.

“So, what do you have to talk to me about? Not enough money to cover expenses?” He takes another drag of his cigarette and gestures to the neighborhood as if asking how that would even be possible.

“Don’t be like that.”

He swings his arm around my shoulder and squeezes me closer to him. “Oh, Vic, that’s our relationship. We go back and forth. Married or divorced, that won’t change.”

I roll my eyes and push him off of me.

“Besides, I’m kidding. You know I don’t mind paying for Jade.”

I half smile, not sure where this man emerged from.

“I wanted to let you know that… I met an old friend of ours recently.” I hear the hesitation in my voice and I’m sure he must pick up on it because he stops walking and turns to look at me.

“Who?” He takes another drag of his cigarette and exhales smoke in my direction. My stomach rolls from the smell.

“Reed Warner,” I say his name like I’m not even sure if that’s his name, which of course I am. I may have actually written Mrs. Warner on a scrap paper like a teenage girl this week, ripped it up and threw it away.

Looking nonplussed Pete starts walking again. “Reed? I think he’s more an old friend of mine than yours, right?” The way he asks the question is almost accusatory.

“Yeah, but he stood up in our wedding.”

He purses his lips staring up at the sky like he didn’t remember. “Oh yeah.”

“He was your best man,” I remind him.

“Yeah, yeah, I know.”

He so didn’t remember. This is Pete, somewhere after ‘I do’ and ‘It’s a girl,’ I lost him. I lost him to success.

“Well, it turns out he’s a Big Brother to a boy that Jade is friends with.”

“Wait.” He holds his hand up. “The boy trying to be a man thing?”

“Yes…No… I mean, yeah, Reed is Henry’s big brother. You know the program.”

“He still does that? Why?”

“I don’t know, Pete, maybe because he’s a nice human being?”

His face is laced with confusion. “Did he lose his license to practice law or something?”

“No, he’s the assistant district attorney. He’s doing it because he wants to.” I stop us because we’re nearing the school and I need to get this out before we get there.

“He’s an ADA? What a pussy. He makes dimes when he could be making dollars. What the hell is wrong with him?”

“Okay, let’s forget the whole Big Brother thing and what path he’s gone down to practice law. There’s more.”

He eases his stance, his eyes narrowing on me. “You’re not one to beat around the bush, Vic, what is it?”

Finally, a light bulb went off.

“We’re dating.” The words rush out of my mouth like the Colorado Rapids.

“You’re dating Reed Warner? Our best man?”

“According to you, he was just your best man.”

“Don’t be snide. You’re dating Reed?”

I nod.

He huffs and tosses his cigarette butt on the sidewalk.

“I thought you swore off lawyers?” He digs into his jacket for another cigarette.

I pull out my phone to check the time. We still have five minutes before Jade gets out.

“Turns out not the good ones.” I smile, hoping to ease some of the sting.

He cups his hand over the cigarette and lights it, blowing a stream of smoke out of the corner of his mouth. “Shit. You just ran me over with a dump truck. I thought you were gonna ride my ass about her routine or some shit. Not the fact that you’re dating…my best friend.”

“He’s not your best friend. When’s the last time you talked to him?”

He thinks again, his eyes staring up at the dreary gray sky. “I don’t know. Maybe six years ago? You’re happy?” he asks, looking back down at me.

I nod and smile, thinking this is going to be fine. That I worried for nothing.

“I am.”

“You look like you lost a few pounds.” He smiles, looking me over.

“Gee thanks.” I pat his flat stomach. “Cool it on the beer, yeah?”

He laughs. “You and Reed, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“Sneaky bastard.” He inhales and exhales the smoke. The cigarette hangs from his fingers. “That’s it though? Just dating? No wedding on the horizon? You’re not knocked up or anything?”

“No, I practice safe sex after I ended up stuck with you for seven years.” I give him a saccharine smile.

His eyes crinkle at the edges. “She’s the best thing we did.” He glances over to the school.

“That’s the truth.”

He swings his arm around me, flicks the cigarette into the street and walks us the rest of the way to the school. “She was worth all the fighting and screaming and losing my youth.”

I hip check him. “Um, I’m the one who lost my youth.”

He doesn’t say anything and eventually his arm falls off my shoulders, but the silence between us is content and easy.

Why did I worry so much?

The minute we break the tree-line and the courtyard opens up, all eyes are on Pete. Darcie and Georgia’s mouths hang open and a few others whisper to each other as they wait for their kids.

“Mean moms?” He nods at Darcie, able to pick the head viper out of the pack.

Back in Los Angeles, Jade went to a private school and he was familiar with their kind.

“Yep.”

“Wanna fuck with them?”

“How so?”

“Do they know you’re with Reed?”

I glance away from Pete and see Darcie approaching. Of course. She’s like the fucking police of a small town. No one enters without being questioned.

“Yes, they do.” I shrug.

“Vicki,” she says.

Pete’s hand slides into mine. I feel none of the warmth I do when Reed holds my hand.

“Darcie. Georgia,” I say each name with the annoyance I feel toward them.

“Who’s this?” she asks, her eyes rolling over Pete’s body.

“This is Jade’s father, Pete.”

He puts his hand out to shake without ever letting go of mine. “Hi. I’m in from Los Angeles.” They shake hands.

“Vicki, I thought you were with Reed?” Darcie asks with a glance at our joined hands, trying her best to stir up trouble.

Pete stares over at me for a moment, I think he’s going to act like we’re not divorced and he’s just found out I’m cheating on him. “They know about Reed?” he whispers to me, loud enough for them to hear.

I nod, still not understanding where he’s going with all this.

“Are you two still married?” Georgia asks.

Pete leans forward. “Who said we were ever married in the beginning? She’s a Clarke. I’m a Keebler. Jade’s a Keebler.”

They look at one another, trying to figure out the puzzle he’s presented them with. Are they dense enough to not realize I took back my maiden name?

“Oh, so you,” Darcie’s eyes drop to our entwined hands. “Are together?”

Pete closes the gap between us and the bell rings to say school’s out. The principal opens the doors, waiting for the kids to pack up their backpacks and get out. Jade’s expecting my mom, which will make Pete being here that much more special to her.

“We’re all together, if you know what I mean.” Pete winks.

“Oh,” Darcie’s hand covers her chest. “Like?”

Georgia’s eyes crinkle, her head flipping from Darcie to Pete then me.

“Open relationship.” He winks again, and she steps back like she could catch whatever we have.

“Open?” Georgia stares around all of us trying to figure out what the hell we’re talking about.

I bite my lip to keep from laughing.

The kids are running out of the school and racing down the stairs.

“Please though, keep it on the down low. You know how some people judge.” He cringes.

Jade runs down the stairs, spotting Pete.

“DADDY!”

He releases my hand, bends down and scoops his little girl up in his arms. They swing around, and I almost feel like I’m in a movie as I watch on. The pit of my stomach burns over the fact that I took her away from him.

“Hi, Henry,” I say, patting his head as he stares at Jade with her dad.

The entire courtyard seems enamored by the scene.

When Pete places her back down, Jade wipes tears from her eyes and Pete stares down at her with water in his own. “I missed you,” Pete says, and Jade wraps her arms tight around his neck.

“I missed you,” she murmurs into his jacket.

A horn honks and Henry looks up. “My grandpa is here. Bye, Jade, have fun this weekend.”

“Wait,” Jade says, halting Henry in his tracks. “Daddy, this is my friend, Henry.”

Pete puts out his fist and Henry bumps it. “Nice to meet you,” Pete says. “I heard you’ve never seen the ocean?”

He shakes his head.

“Never, Daddy,” Jade confirms.

Pete digs into his pocket. “Here.” He pulls out a bottle of sand with ocean water floating at the top. “It’s sand and water from the Pacific Ocean.”

Henry takes it and stares at it for a long moment. “Thanks,” he says, with wide, awestruck eyes.

The horn honks again and Henry turns. “I gotta go.”

“Bye, Henry,” Jade says.

“Bye.” He glances back to me and I wave.

“Where’s mine?” Jade asks.

Pete pretends to forget her and Jade pouts. “Would I ever forget my girl?” he asks, pulling another bottle out of his jacket.

In that moment, Pete has won every person in that courtyard over. Here, he’s the charming dad who loves his daughter so much it brings him to tears. Hell, for a second, I was right there with them. There’s a reason why he’s the best defense attorney in Los Angeles.