Page 21 of Let's Call a Truce
I knew he was fit, but in his thin workout clothes, you could tell how much time and effort he dedicated to his body. Those arms looked powerful enough to support my weight, his hands gripping my ass as he pushed me against the wall.…
No. Bad thoughts. Get it together.
He crossed his arms as he drew himself to his full, towering height. “Good morning, Juliana.”
I tilted my chin up and mirrored his stance. “Do you always head to the park on Saturday mornings to torture the happy families, or did you make a special trip for my sake?”
“Mom, that wasn’t very nice.”
I swallowed a curse. Sophie made it over to us way quicker than I had expected.
Ben gave Sophie a delighted smile. “You’re right. That wasn’t very nice, Mom.”
He taunted me with his smirk, waiting to see how I’d balance my annoyance at him with my need to teach Sophie manners.
“I’m sorry,” I said with just enough sincerity to trick my seven-year-old and not an ounce more. “Please forgive me.”
“All’s forgiven.” He magnanimously placed his hand over his heart—all a show meant to drive me wild. I didn’t count this as a win for him. Using my kids was cheating.
What was he even doing here? What plausible reason could he have for showing up at the youth soccer fields on Saturday? There was only one logical explanation. Asia was trying to play peacemaker again. She was determined. I’d give her that. But her attempts so far had failed, and I didn’t see that changing anytime soon.
Asia stepped in before I said something I’d regret, at least in front of Sophie. “I’m going to stay and hang out with Ben for a while. Unless, maybe, we all wanted to hang out. Maybe get to know each other a little better?”
She gave Ben a look I couldn’t decipher, and he subtly shook his head.Well, fuck you, too.It wasn’t like I wanted to spend the afternoon with him, but his dismissal set me on fire.
“Not gonna happen, As,” I said with a smirk at Ben. He scoffed in response.
Sophie pouted and looked back and forth between them, a thoughtful line forming between her brows. “But Miss Asia, you were supposed to get ice cream with us. Are you staying because he’s your boyfriend?”
I blanched at the idea, and Asia lifted her eyebrows at me knowingly. Dani gave up all pretense and started cackling. Though, when I thought about it, they would make sense together. They were both beautiful and got along. The thought twisted something inside of me, and I told myself it was because Asia was too good for him.
“No, honey. He’s one of my best friends, like your mom. I’m sorry, I forgot I told Mr. Ben I would play with him before I said I would get ice cream.”
Her words conjured up images of all the ways adults couldplay,and my stomach roiled. I pressed my lips together and focused on gathering our things. I knew nothing was romantic between them, so why couldn’t I stop the sinking sensation washing over me?
Ben squatted down next to Sophie. “And who are you, miss?”
“I’m Sophie Elizabeth Ryan. She’s my mom!”
“Well, Miss Sophie, it is wonderful to meet you.” He shook her hand delicately. “I’m Ben, and I work with your mom and Miss Asia. You look like your mom, but even prettier.”
I rolled my eyes at his display. I was confident in my looks, but I couldn’t imagine what he expected to gain from this over-the-top chivalry. Then I looked down at Sophie and noticed her preening at his attention.
“We should go, Sophie, if we’re going to have time to stop for ice cream.”
“Okay, Mom! Just let me say bye to my best friend.” Without pausing for permission, she sprinted off toward the field.
“You just said goodbye,” I called after her, but she was already gone.
I sighed a bit at my carefree and reckless daughter. Even at seven years old, she was a force to be reckoned with. Who knows what she would become by the time she was my age? Probably take over the country. Focused on her bouncy ponytail, I didn’t realize Ben had moved to my side until he spoke.
“She seems like a sweet kid.” We stood together watching her chat with some friends from school I hadn’t met yet.
“She is. Her sister, too. I worry about them. It has to change a person, going through so much pain at such a young age, but they still seem to hold on to their joy.”
We were standing shoulder to shoulder. I looked up into his eyes to find understanding reflected at me. That one look—the soft, reassuring gaze—was enough to loosen the knot of tension I’d been holding on to since Clara called my name last night. With our eyes locked, he closed his hand over mine, giving it a slight squeeze. My heart swelled inside of my chest, andI felt the urge to step into the comfort I didn’t know he could offer.
It is not my job to accommodate her kids.
