Page 52 of Heartbroken Husband
“A grill?” I asked.
“A motorcycle.”
I hummed, but I was too deep in my own head to take him very seriously. He kept staring at them as we ran past, though. “I’m thinking of doing a road trip across the states. Just me and the open road, with no plan and nothing holding me back.”
I scoffed. “That sounds like a terrible idea.”
“I think what you mean to say is that it sounds like freedom.”
“No, what it really sounds like is that you’re forgetting you have a job.”
He shrugged. “There’s a whole marketing and PR department to cover for me.”
“Okay, but that’s nottheirjob.”
“I’m basically a professionalyes man. I go wherever I’m needed and I finished my stint in marketing and PR. For now, I don’t have a role anyone will miss me in if I leave.”
“Your dedication to the family business is inspiring.”
“Thank you.”
We kept running, but whatever he said after that drifted right past me, my head already moving on to the next thing. “You’ll have the house to yourself for a while.”
Despite the fact that he was already sweating profusely and breathing hard, Theo perked up. “Excuse me?”
“If Adeline signs, I’m taking the girls up to Wisconsin for a few weeks.”
He frowned. “You’re taking them to your ranch?”
“Yep. I’d like to, at least.”
“Adelineandher girls?”
“That’s what I said.”
“Wow.” He laughed. “Imagine that. You taking kids to the ranch.”
“Why is that such a surprise?”
“I didn’t think I’d live to see the day you voluntarily spent an extended period of time with bundles of chaos who are probably regularly covered in sticky stuff and glitter.”
“Neither did I,” I said honestly. “But I want to get to know them better and it feels like a good idea to take them up there before the girls start school in the fall.”
He grinned. “I’m proud of you.”
“Don’t be.”
“So how long do I get the house to myself?” he asked after a brief pause.
“For a few weeks, assuming Adeline’s onboard with it.”
He threw his arms up in the air like he’d just won a marathon. “I’m going to throw a party.”
“No, you’re not. If I come back and the place is on fire, you’re explaining it to Dad. Don’t expect any backup from me.”
“It won’t be on fire, though there might be some light damage.”
I shook my head but didn’t argue. Honestly, I just didn’t have it in me today. The truth was that whether or not he threw a party or burned the house down, I was still taking Adeline and her kids to Wisconsin if she signed, and I was really, really hoping she would
