Page 65 of The Troublemaker
What does he not understand?Hadley is not Tanner’s mom, nor does she want that role for longer than she’s required to assume it.Hadley’s spirit would shrivel up and die if she had to stay in one place.Sure, it’s fine now, she’s getting her bookstore out of the deal, but I doubt she’d ever want to be strapped down into a conventional life.
Not that I’m looking for anything more than what we have.That’s not us.So I don’t even know why we’re talking about her.
“I don’t want him to grow up without a mom.”I can’t explain why it’s important to me, but it is.If she really doesn’t want anything to do with him, I’ll move forward, but if she’s out there struggling or just needed a break or didn’t know how to approach me, that’s different.“I feel like someone took every part of my life, tossed it in the air, and everything is all jumbled now.”
Foster stares at me while Decker and Hayes discuss how maybe it’s best if she’s not part of Tanner’s life since she left him the way she did.
Foster holds out his hand.“Let me see the list again.”
“Thanks.”
He reads it over.“You hooked up with someone in Cabo.Is there someone you can call?Someone who might have caught her name?Was she part of the wedding party?”
I nod.“I did, and I’m waiting.”
“That’s a start on that one.And you were with Deck at the club the night before?”
“Yeah.Finally someone takes a helping role with this.”I eye Hayes and Decker, and they both roll their eyes.
“Do you know how many girls you’ve hooked up with?I can’t remember them all.”Decker throws his hands up.“Especially from so long ago.”
“It’s a small window.”I try to give myself hope, but Decker’s right.Most of the women are all blurs.
God, my mom would be so ashamed of me.Not that I think I meant much to those women except a fun night with a Colt.One thing I can say is that I never led anyone on.
“Well, Decker will try to rack his brain for anything from that night.Was anyone with you at this Falcons game?”Foster looks at me questioningly.
The only reason I remembered I was there was from looking back at my calendar.I don’t remember anything else about it.
For the entire trip to New York, my friends help me go over where I might be able to find some leads to get the numbers of the women to find out if they’re Tanner’s mom.I feel good as I step off the plane, as if there’s hope that I might find her.
My phone dings as we’re shuttling to the bus.
Hadley: As promised.:) (video attached)
In the video, Hadley holds a picture of me, and she’s sayingdada.Tanner is smiling, that little bubble forming as he hits his hand on the picture.She looks at the camera and winks.
Fuck… she’s too good to be with a guy like me who can’t even remember all the women I slept with.
But I’m too selfish to be the one to tell her.
ChapterTwenty-Four
Hadley
Isurvived.Six nights, seven days of being alone with Tanner.
Thankfully, Felix and Vera can handle The Story Jar, so most of my day, except for story time, was spent in my grandma’s office, trying to make sense of the figures and come up with ideas on how to turn it around.
As Tanner and I wait for Easton to get home, my stomach has butterflies, and there’s this energy buzzing inside me that I’ve never had before.I didn’t expect to miss Easton.At least he’ll have one day off before he’s at home for a back-to-back series.
“Okay, buddy, let’s try this.”I set Tanner in the pillow fort I’ve made around him as I try to help him sit up by himself.I place his fists between his legs, catching him as he slowly leans forward, going headfirst into the rug.“Maybe not yet.”
I give him a break and put him between my legs, picking up his favorite small open-holed balls and other toys he loves to play with.
When I hear the lock slide over and the condo door opens, I pick up Tanner and stand.
Easton says something to Foster I don’t catch, then walks in, his bag sliding off his shoulder and falling to the floor.He smiles and crosses the room.My stomach flips when I see his smile.
