She glanced down at her pink long-sleeved shirt and black running pants.
“The pink reminds me of the second time I saw you at the park. I’ll never forget the way you looked in that pink shirt.”
She pushed at her limp ponytail and felt her neck heat up; to cool herself, she gulped down some more water. “Um … thank you.”
“I’m pushing you too hard?” he guessed.
She shrugged, loving his compliments and wishing for the millionth time that Jeff was out of her life. “So, my idea.” She set the water bottle on the counter and gesticulated as she explained. “With Krew in school full-time this year, I started back at work doing home designs. I’m an independent contractor, but Vance got me in with an amazing builder, True Homes, so my business took off. Jeff pays me a lot of child support, and I’ve been putting it all aside and paying extra on my car and the house.”
He watched her carefully. She didn’t really like sharing her finances with him—well, with anyone—but it was important to her idea.
“Anyway, I’m able to provide for myself now, and I’ve built up my savings, paid my car off, and have no other debts besides the house. So here’s my idea. What if I ask Jeff to restructure our agreement? I tell him he can stop paying child support if he’ll give up all custody besides supervised visits. We could do it all through a mediator and not even have to deal with the legal battles, lawyers, or time spent in court. No bad publicity, which seems to be his main concern.”
Caleb leaned toward her. “Do you think he’ll do it?”
She shrugged. “I think … maybe. He honestly has only come by once in the past two months, and he never gives Krew more than a few glances when he comes. He seems angrier and out of control too. I know all the brain injuries have messed with his brain, because he’s not even close to the man I married. Anyway, I’m hoping the money would be enough motivation for him. He does well, but he’s not at the top tier or anything, and I can’t imagine he’s got many more years of playing in him.”
“Do you mind me asking how much he pays you a month?”
“Twenty thousand.”
Caleb’s eyebrows lifted. “That might be a decent motivator. Is that about a quarter of his take-home pay?”
“A third, and he has some sponsorships on top of that. I think he agreed in the first place because the media made a big deal about how generous he was being, which helped with his image during a nasty divorce and in turn helped his sponsors.” There was silence for a second; then she said, “I think I’m going to try it. Do you see any holes in the idea?”
He splayed his hands and said, “I don’t know Jeff well enough to say, but I don’t think it could hurt to ask. If he truly doesn’t seem interested in Krew, then he’s only doing this to control you. Hopefully, his brain injuries aren’t bad enough that he’s completely unreasonable. I’ve known some athletes who got there.”
That was her fear too. She clutched her water bottle. If this worked with Jeff, she and Caleb would be free to date. She prayed it would work out, but she had to protect Krew no matter what. “I’d better go shower and get working. I’ll see you tonight.”
“When you make me a delectable dinner,” he said with a wink.
“Yes, sir. Do you care if I cook in here while you play with Krew? Then it’ll all be fresh and hot.”
“I’d love to see you cooking in my kitchen, another daydream of mine,” he winked, “and I love any time I get with Krew.”
Was it too early to tell him she loved him? Definitely. She simply thanked him and let him walk her out.
On the porch, he said, “So I’m guessing you’re going to tell me I can’t kiss you goodbye?” His voice was so low and husky that she didn’t know how to say no.
“I think we’d better …” She swallowed hard. “… wait until everything’s settled.”
He nodded solemnly.
She backed away, then swiveled and started running. Running away had never been so hard.