Page 2 of Savannah Sweethearts

My thoughts momentarily turned back to Evan. I wondered if he was now turning in circles looking for me, and I giggled. My parents would have a beratement for me in the morning, but for now, I didn’t care. Maybe I wouldn’t care at all anymore.

We slipped into the shop and picked a couch in the back. I sat—or, rather, fell—into the worn couch with a laugh. Tyrell perched on the edge.

“You want the usual? My treat.” His smile was warm and his eyes inviting. While he had certainly matured, he was still the same Tyrell I had known years ago.

“You remember?” We had started drinking coffee together, wanting to seem more grown-up. When he nodded, I agreed, and he went to the counter to order.

He returned with two mugs in hand and a cheese Danish to split. He knew my weakness for Danish. I picked it up and tore it in half, biting into a piece. It wasn’t until I was chewing that I realized he was just staring at me.

“So, Ashley Gloss, what are you up to these days?” He leaned away from me and folded his arms in front of him.

Sitting on the low couch was not the most flattering position, especially in a clingy dress. And especially when I was stuffing my face with pastry. “I’m a preschool teacher, and I live right near Baldwin Park. How about you?”

He laughed. “That’s it? No epic love story? No kids? No scientific breakthroughs?”

“Unfortunately, no. You know I was never much for science. I got my degree in early childhood education and started working. I love my school. It pays the bills.” I took a sip of coffee, realizing I hadn’t done a whole lot with my life thus far. “I have a cat. I try to do some philanthropy. But tell me about you.”

His smile fell, and I wondered if he had run into unfortunate circumstances since we had last seen each other. “Well, I’m a producer for Action News now, living here in the city, just a few blocks from Mom.” He hesitated and winced a little. “I have twin daughters, who are four. They are the light of my life.”

Oh. He had kids. The cozy atmosphere suddenly became suffocating—not that it had a reason. Tyrell was not mine to claim. At all. I had always thought he and I would end up together and have children one day. I wondered why he had left the party with me if he had a wife and children at home waiting for him.

I plastered a smile onto my face. “Oh my goodness, twins! That must be so much fun. I’m sure you and their mother are always on the go.” I stuffed another bite of Danish into my mouth to keep myself from breaking down.

He quickly stepped in to correct me. “No, no. We’re not together. We’ve never been together. She was a mistake. A complete, one-time mistake. But that gave me the biggest blessing of my life with the girls, so we share custody.”

He showed me a picture of two identical little girls with braided ponytails. They were precious and looked very much like Tyrell. I was relieved that he wasn’t with their mother, though I had no reason to be.

We chatted about his children and his mother. Then we talked about my parents and my brother with his new baby. Before we knew it, two hours had passed, and my sides hurt from laughing so much.

“I really should go. My classroom will be very lively in the morning.” I stifled a yawn.

“Where do you teach?”

“Lighthouse Preschool. It’s a great place.” I picked up my small purse and put it in my lap.

A knowing grin crossed his face. “I knew it. It had to be fate. The girls start there tomorrow. I’m transferring them to be closer to Mom.”

“That’s wild. I can’t wait to meet them. I guess I’ll see you around, then.” I stood, and he followed suit.

After a slightly awkward hug, we parted ways. I went home to my cat, and we curled up on the bed where I lay awake wondering what might have been. I fell asleep to dreams of the family that might have been mine if I had only ignored my father.

Tyrell

Back home, I gently woke my mom to relieve her of her babysitting duties. I decided not to mention Ashley to her, even though they had been close when we dated. If nothing came of it, there was no point in giving my mother hope. She left, and I changed into sweats and a t-shirt.

I still couldn’t believe it. My Ashley. No, not my Ashley. Never again my Ashley. Her father saw to that. And all the better. Because of him, I fought for what I wanted. Because of him, I had made something of myself. Nobody would call me a good-for-nothing ever again. And because my relationship with Ashley had ended, I now had my girls, sleeping side by side in the next room.

A text came through on my phone, and I knew it would be Sabra, the girls’ mother.

Sabra: How my babies?

Me: They’re fine. Fast asleep. Goodnight.

Sabra: You know we could be a whole family if you’d take me back to your bed.

I ignored the message. She always wanted me to take her back when she was between other boyfriends. We had never dated in the first place. If it hadn’t been for a DNA test, I wouldn’t have known the girls were mine. Sabra had been a mistake, one I would be saddled with for the rest of my life. But the girls—they were my greatest miracle.

There was too much nervous energy after seeing Ashley, so I called my work buddy AO. In truth, he was probably my closest friend. When he didn’t answer, I gave up, flipping my phone onto the couch. He was probably at P’s and Cues, our usual after-work hangout.