Page 57 of The Troublemaker
It’s weird to be one of them.Walking with a kid strapped to my chest and going to meet my husband after he played a professional baseball game so we can head back to our condo.A month ago, I was in Dublin on a pub crawl.What has happened to my life?
“So how has it been?”Penelope asks, the three women flanking me.“Being married to Easton.”
“Have the internet comments bothered you?”Callie asks.
“I haven’t really looked at them.I mean, Easton tagged me in the marriage post, and I liked it, but I haven’t gone back online to look at anything.”
They all glance at one another with raised eyebrows.
“Good for you.They can be like little vultures picking at the carcass of your self-esteem,” Callie says.
We walk into a room and, other than us, there aren’t many women our age here.Easton did say something last year about how they had the most single guys on a team.I guess that’s still the case.
“Stay away from reading them.Nothing good comes from it.”Leighton puts her hand on my forearm.
Maybe I’m not as invested since I’m not in love with Easton, so I don’t really care what those women think.Not to mention, he’ll be theirs again in a year.Whereas I could see it being devastating if you did love the man, and women were picking you apart.
I drop the diaper bag on the floor and sit in a chair.
Penelope falls into the one beside me.“They can be a while, but then I don’t know about Easton.He never really came in here unless we were all going out.”
“Last year he hung with the Chipmunks a lot.”Leighton sits in the other chair.
My forehead wrinkles.“The Chipmunks?”
They all laugh.
“They’re Falcon players.I think they’re just biding their time for a place in the building.Young and cocky and—” Penelope rolls her eyes.
“Annoying,” Callie finishes for her.
“They’re growing up a little more every year.Maturing.I think I heard Simon was dating someone serious.”Leighton’s shoulder lifts, rearranging Flora in the carrier.
“Anyway, maybe Easton will be the first one out.Eager to see his new wife.”Penelope knocks her elbow against mine.
“You guys know…” I let it hang because there might not be other wives or girlfriends here, but there are some parents from the looks of it.
“We know,” they all say in unison.
“But we’re wondering how it will all play out.”Penelope smiles.
I run my hand over Tanner’s back.“You know how it’s going to play out.”
“We think you’re someone special to him.”Leighton bites her lip.
“So you’ve been talking about me?”
Tanner shifts in the carrier, probably sensing the unease in me that people are making predictions about my life.
They all laugh.
“Yes.You’re married to the last bachelor out of the group.And we like you, so of course we want to keep you.”Callie’s smile is big and contagious.
“Jeez, Callie, can you make it sound not so creepy?”Leighton turns to me.“It’s just… you’re not clingy… you’re not obsessed…”
“I personally like that you don’t put him on a pedestal.”Callie props Ellis on her lap and gives her some cotton candy to keep her occupied.
“I’ve known him a while.We’re familiar.”I shrug.
