Page 62 of Mom Com

My worry transforms into frustration. That’s his pressing question? Not a plea that if we do stay, he’ll be able to see more of his son?

“I don’t know,” I say flatly.

“That annoys you?”

“A little, yeah,” I say.

“My question? Or that you have to work with Wilder?” he continues, and I give him a hard look.

“Why are you even asking about Wilder?”

“Why would I not?”

“Because Wilder isn’t the point.”

He shakes his head. “I really don’t get you, Maddi.”

“What do you mean?”

He hesitates like he knows it’s a bad idea to continue. “Look, do whatever you want, but all I’m gonna say is that every time you get involved with him, you get hurt.”

I stand there for a second, getting my annoyance in check and resisting the urge to disagree. He’s not exactly wrong. And there’s no way in hell I’m going to utter the wordsThis time is different, because I’m not an idiot, and also because that would be admitting something was going on between us... which it’s not. Mostly.

Instead, I go with: “Is that all you came by to say? Because if so, your concern is noted.”

Only he’s Jake, so he laughs. “Wow, Maddi, I didn’t realize you’d be in this deep already. I have to hand it to Wilder, he’s smooth.”

I press my lips together, biting back my reaction. “I, too, have some questions, Jake,while you’re here. Mainly, why don’t you care as much about asking if Spence is staying as you do about if I’m somehow getting friendly with Wilder?”

His smile falls. “That was shitty.”

I want to say,Which part? The fact that I pointed it out or the truth of it?But I don’t because I’m not trying to fight with him and have him avoid Spence in the process. “Look, I know you’ve been trying. You’ve been spending a lot of time with Spence and he’s really loving it.”

“As am I,” he interjects.

“And that makes me really happy,” I continue, which is true. “But I think it’d be better if we didn’t try to relive our teen years. They were painful enough the first time around.” Now, if I could just take this advice myself that would be great.

He nods, looking out into the snowy front yard and back at me. “Sorry, Maddi. I don’t know why it made me so crazy when I heard. You’re right. It’s none of my business.”

I sigh. Apologetic Jake is like a golden retriever giving you sad eyes; it’s basically impossible to stay mad.

“It’s fine,” I say. “You should have seen my reaction when Mom read the will.”

A hint of his smile returns. “I can only imagine.”

“If Spence wasn’t there, I might have lit the house on fire, starting with Wilder.”

“I don’t doubt that for a second,” he says with a laugh and pauses. “And Maddi, you’re right, my first question should have been about Spence. He really is a cool little guy.”

“The coolest,” I agree.

“And well, I know you haven’t made up your mind... but I, for one, would like it if you two decided to move back.”

I’m about to answer but I don’t get the chance.

“What do you mean move back?” Spence says from behind me, the front door clicking shut like an exclamation mark.

Whatever relief I just felt is obliterated in a flash. I whip around as Spence skips down the steps to join us.