Page 67 of Heartache & Playdates
“Ouch. That had to hurt.”
“It didn’t feel good.”
“Well, I still think there’s hope. I mean her moving back here, getting hired at Hannah’s school, Hannah being in her class that has to befate.”
“Says the hopeless romantic,” I deflected so she didn’t get a hint that I’d thought the exact same thing as I pushed off the counter. “Congrats again. I’m really happy for you guys.”
“Thanks, Maddy-Cakes, and hey, don’t give up hope!” She poked her finger in my chest. “Look at me and Ryan. If it’s meant to be, it will be.”
I nodded and after saying bye to Peanut and Ryan I was back in my SUV heading to Bayview. The drive took a little longer than I’d hoped it would to get across the city. Lizzy’s parting statement was playing on a loop in my mind. I wanted to believe that she was right. But only if we were meant to be, not if we weren’t.
Finally, after what seemed like hours but was more like thirty minutes, I pulled onto Nonna’s street and was happily surprised to find street parking right in front of her townhouse. Maybe that was a sign. I walked up the steps to Nonna’s and tried to tell myself it was the right thing being here. She had saidtonightbut hadn’t specified whether it would be over the phone or in person. I was making that decision for her and doing everything in my power to convince myself that I was not being a stalker.
I had shown up in her classroom this afternoon and used a code to get in the back to avoid the rest of the parents and was now showing up at her house uninvited.
But, in my defense, after the dinner we’d shared, I fully intended to walk away and let her go. I hadn’t been happy about it, but I’d told myself that she’d set boundaries and I needed to respect them. But then, to show up at Hannah’s school and she is her teacher.
This had to befate. What else could it be? I just needed to have one conversation with her. Onereal conversation where we put all our cards on the table. Where she was being honest with me. Then, I would move the fuck on.
I lifted my hand and knocked on the door. I waited, there was no answer. I knocked again. Still, no answer. I leaned to the right and peered into the sidelight. The house was dark, and it didn’t look like anyone was home.
My head fell back in a sigh. The right thing to do was probably to leave and come back later. Or even call or text Peyton to see if she wanted to talk over the phone. But I couldn’t do either of those things. This was too important.
I’d always considered myself a patient man, but not when it came to this talk. This needed to happen tonight. Turning around, I lowered down, sitting on the top of the steps. I would wait. For as long as it took.
26
PEYTON
“You had a mini-panic attack,met your ex’s baby mama, and then went back to your classroom and The Elephant was waiting for you?” Leo repeated what I’d just told him, catching him up on the rest of my day.
“Yes.” I’d decided instead of going straight home after work, I’d walk around the park and talk with Leo to try and clear my head. But the sun had set an hour ago, so I figured I should head home and was on my way there.
“What did he want?”
“I don’t know. I had to go to a meeting. I told him to leave.”
“Why?!”
“Because I did and it was my first day!” I defended myself. “I can’t have my ex showing up to my classroom. The principal came in and saw him.”
“I thought his child is in your class.”
“She is.”
“So, you were just having a parent-teacher conference.”
“How do you do that?”
“You mean spin everything?”
“It’s a gift.”
I sighed, wishing my life didn’t feel so complicated.
“What did he say when you told him to leave?”
“He said that we needed to talk. Soon.”
