Hope Smolders Read Free Page B

smiled wistfully. “Yes, he does.”
    Will took a seat next to her. “Have you heard from him?”
    “From Vic? No.”
    “At all?”
    “No.”
    “I’m sorry, Jane.”
    She shrugged. “I’m over it.”
    “I’m sorry for not coming over, too.”
    Coming over? Why would he want to do that? “My family isn’t your responsibility. It’s Vic’s.”
    “Still, I could have been there to help you through this. I guess I thought maybe you wouldn’t want to see me, that I’d remind you of what you lost.”
    She frowned. “That’s ridiculous. You had nothing to do with him leaving.”
    “But he and I were best friends. I should have seen it coming.”
    She let out a very unladylike snort. “I was married to him. I lived with him every day. I shared his life. And I didn’t see it coming. Neither did his parents. So unless you’re some kind of psychic, I don’t think you had an edge on knowing he was going to abruptly check out of marriage and fatherhood without letting anyone know.”
    Will stared out over the playground. “I know it’s been two years, but I still can’t believe he just up and disappeared without a word, that he hasn’t contacted you.”
    “Oh, we were in contact through his attorney—at least long enough for him to sign the divorce papers.”
    “Maybe he figured he was so screwed up that he was doing you a favor.”
    “Some favor,” she said with a laugh. “Leaving me and the kids and then disappearing so well I can’t find him in order to get him to pay child support.”
    “Jesus.” Will shoved his fingers through his hair and looked down at the ground. “I had no idea it was that bad.”
    Wasn’t she a brilliant conversationalist? She could bring down a chat in three seconds flat. God, how depressing could she be?
    She stood. “It’s not that bad, Will. The kids and I are doing just fine.” She hollered for Tabitha and Ryan, then turned to him. “Great to see you again.”
    Will’s gaze was intense as he stood and came to stand beside her. “You don’t have to go, Jane.”
    “Yes, I do. It’s late and it’s getting cool out here. I have papers to grade and the kids have homework. I’ll see you around.”
    She gathered up the kids and headed down the street before she poured out her heart and soul and wept on Will’s shoulder, the absolute last thing she wanted to do.
    She was strong, and a survivor. She hated those looks of sympathy and pity from anyone, especially Will.
    Her life was just freaking fine.
    * * *
    W ill watched Jane wander down the street with her kids. She held Tabitha’s hand, and Ryan was walking backward, talking nonstop to her about something.
    Will had said something wrong, because she’d looked hurt or pissed off and she couldn’t wait to get away from him.
    Maybe because she didn’t like talking about Vic and the divorce. Either way, he made a mental note to look forward, not back, the next time he saw her.
    He knew he’d woken her up when he’d come upon her on the bench. She was likely exhausted. He wondered how long it had been since she’d gone out and had some fun. Had she even been out at all since the divorce? Or had she been so focused on rebuilding her life with the kids and making sure their needs were met that she hadn’t been meeting her own?
    He might not be able to do anything about her sonofabitch loser of an ex-husband, but he could definitely do something about her having some fun.

CHAPTER THREE
    T wo algebra classes in a row always made her brain tired, but Jane lived for math, even if her students didn’t jump for joy over quadratic equations.
    Her next class was basic math, so she’d get a breather, though she had a couple kids in this class who needed one-on-one help. They were skating the edge of failing and she’d be damned if she’d let that happen.
    If a kid didn’t give a crap, she’d work with him or her and try to explain what it would mean to fail her class. She’d push and prod, and often, the kid