Life changed for Maddie when her parents were home. No longer a single adult living her own life, she was an adult living in her parent's house. With them came their groceries and temptations Maddie had avoided for months. Todd Evans had a sweet tooth and cake, cookies, and candy invaded the pantry. By early May, her goal shorts were still too snug to be comfortable. She would double her efforts and hope they would fit before summer really kicked off.

With spring in bloom, the daylight lasted longer and although it was still cold especially with the ocean breeze, everyone was outside in the evenings. The months of hibernation were over and Maddie often met Jack and the girls at the beach or stopped by when on an evening walk. On weekends when they ran, Jack no longer knocked on the door to come in to wait for her. Maddie met him on the street, because her kitchen wasn't her own.

One Saturday afternoon, Maddie had the day off and she and Rory had spent the better part of it in Portsmouth on Rory's birthday bookstore trip. When they returned, Steve's car was at her house. Rory followed her inside as Maddie asked her mother about the car.

"Steve came by to see us. He's gone to see your father at the market. He'll be here for dinner." Her mother was busy cooking.

"You realize I'm not dating him anymore."

"Yes, you mentioned that," she said, as if it was a minor problem.

Before Maddie could say anything else, Steve walked in. He looked at Maddie and gave a low whistle, "Whoa Maddie! Look at you!" Maddie didn't reply. "Looking forward to catching up over dinner."

"I have other plans for dinner. My friend Rory and I have plans."

"Rory can eat with us," her mother said.

"Sure, I don't mind eating with a kid."

"We have plans with Jack and Emma too."

"There's plenty of food for everyone. It will be a lovely gathering."

Had her mother been into the cooking wine?

"Yeah, fine by me. Have them come too."

Her former boyfriend and the man she secretly dreamed about. Her mother didn't know Maddie spent as much time at Jack's as she did. She also didn't want Jack to see how horrible her last boyfriend was. Remembering, she felt embarrassed to have dated him.

Rory spoke. "We'll go ask."

Maddie followed her out the door and down the street. "Rory, do you want to eat at my house?"

"I don't want you eating with that guy alone."

"Alone, I have my parents." Maddie laughed.

"No, you need us to protect you."

"Let me talk to your dad. Okay?"

Once at home, Rory went to put her new books away. Maddie sat down next to Jack. "Did you girls have fun?"

"We did."

"Then what's wrong Mads?" It surprised her he could read her mood.

"My mother. Steve came to visit, and she invited him to dinner. I told her I had plans and now she's invited the three of you."

Jack laughed. "To have dinner with 'meaningless sex' guy."

"What? How?" She sputtered and wondered how he knew.

"Come on Mads. It was easy. You broke up with him and vowed no more meaningless dating," he said as Rory came from her room. "I want to meet this guy." He laughed.

"Jack, he's a loser... a big mistake." She put her hands together and pleaded.

"Even better. It should be fun!"

"Jack!"

He just laughed. Maddie would face the humiliation because it was worth it to see Jack happy. Steve had no idea who Jack and Emma were. He had just invited a single guy to the dinner table, one that was everything Steve wasn't - considerate, good looking, great body - really good looking, extremely good looking. Steve would not be pleased.

When they entered the house Maddie was holding Emma, and they looked like a family. It was a fantasy, but a lovely one. Maddie's father had returned from the market and greeted Jack first. As the men exchanged a firm handshake, she suddenly saw Jack as the professional business owner, a far cry from the teenager she hung out with on the beach.

"Jack, glad to hear you're back," Todd Evans said.

"Mr. Evans, you look like a man who spent the winter playing golf."

"Do you play?" Todd asked excitedly.

"No, I started running again after taking a couple years off. Mads and I run almost every morning."

Although Maddie knew better, it sounded different than it was. She added, "During the week we run with Peter."

"Maddie since when did you start running?" Steve asked in disbelief.

"Since the day after I dumped you," she said flatly.

Steve whispered in Maddie's ear. "Who is this guy? Is he for real?"

Maddie chose not to answer him directly. "Jack, this is Steve, the ex that I told you about and Steve, Jack is my good friend. We've been friends since we were kids and he's recently moved back to town with his daughters, Rory and Emma." Just to make her point she loudly kissed Emma's chubby neck as she was still holding her.

Then afraid Steve would say something to change everyone's mood, she said, "Steve, come with me a minute." She put Emma down and took him to the front room away from the kitchen and whispered, "Before you ask questions. Jack lost his wife, and it's still difficult, so be kind to them."

Returning Jack looked at her with concern. She nodded and smiled to let him know she was fine. Dinner was awkward, as the conversation stalled. Her mother tried to push her on Steve. She was trying not to sound too familiar with Jack and Rory, but it was difficult because Rory kept talking about the times they spent together. Jack tried to protect her. Her father sat back and observed. The whole thing was surreal with Steve and Jack at the same table.

Steve asked Jack questions. He acted like a male lion marking his territory and getting ready to fight. Perhaps he was acting like a gorilla given Steve's size or worse a hippopotamus showing dominance by flinging dung with his tail.

"So Jack, what do you do?"

"I'm a software developer." Maddie knew that was a vague answer.

"Computers, huh? Where do you work?"

"From home mostly, my full-time job is being a father."

"So you hardly work, sounds lazy," Steve said.

"Perhaps, but my children aren't hungry and taking care of them is important. Emma doesn't let me be lazy. Steve, are you a father?"

"Yeah, my kids are teenagers... almost adults."

"So you understand completely." Jack smiled. Maddie reached under the table and patted Jack's knee. He squeezed her hand in response. That squeeze did something to her physically.

Steve was not the father Jack was. He saw his kids occasionally on weekends, but when they were dating, he spent time with Maddie instead of his son and daughter. They didn't like Maddie which was strange because kids typically loved her. She tried to like them but eventually gave up since she knew deep down she and Steve didn't have a future. Ironically, she loved Jack's girls, and they loved her, but she and Jack were just friends.

Dinner couldn't end fast enough. As she stood to clear, her mother said, "Steve help Maddie with the dishes."

Before Steve could answer Jack stood. "I will. Rory watch your sister."

Steve didn't volunteer to help, because he never did. He was a believer in women's work. When he came into the kitchen, he watched them which was uncomfortable. She and Jack had been talking quietly about her day with Rory and she felt the need to stop.

As Jack wiped the counters, Steve broke the silence. "You clean like a woman, man."

Jack just looked at Steve and Maddie said, "Steve, real men do dishes. Will you just go home? I asked you to stay away and now you think you can use my mother to get me back. It won't work."

Jack laid a reassuring hand on Maddie's arm and Steve said, "You're sleeping with this lazy bastard. Maddie don't bullshit me!"

Steve's accusations horrified Maddie, but Jack took a step forward in complete control. "Our relationship is none of your concern, but that's no way to talk to a lady. Maddie asked you to leave, perhaps you should say goodbye to her parents."

He looked pissed when he left. Jack pulled her into an embrace. "Are you alright?"

She had trouble speaking as the feel and smell of him were clouding her brain. Finally, she pulled away before she did something stupid like run her fingers through his hair or touch his face to see how soft his scruffy beard was. "Jack, I'm sorry. He's jealous."

"He's a bully and I'm glad you sent him packing."

"My mother isn't." She sighed.

"Could you splurge and eat ice cream?"

"That depends, are you buying?" She teased.

"I'm not so lazy I can't afford ice cream."

When they found the girls, Emma was on Todd's lap and he was reading to her. What a marvelous grandfather he would be if she ever gave him the honor. She foolishly remembered Jack squeezing her hand and his embrace. If only.

Her day with Maddie was great. They spent at least two hours browsing the book store. She found it hard to decide which books to buy. Maddie had as much fun as Rory. They went to Chipotle for lunch which Rory loved. She hadn't been to one since they moved although Maddie told her there was one by the mall closer to home.

When they returned to Maddie's house, her old boyfriend showed up. Rory didn't like him. She didn't trust him, because he acted like he owned Maddie. He was fat, old, and ugly. Maybe not ugly, but compared to Jack, he was. She agreed to dinner, because he was mean. She hoped the Steve guy would be jealous of Jack. He made fun of Jack for being lazy. Jack could have told him he didn't need to work, because he created Castleland, but Jack wouldn't do that.

Rory went for ice cream after dinner, but she wanted to head off to the beach. When she took a few licks before checking the time on her phone. "Can I go see my friends at the beach?"

"Friends? I know Cassie, but who else?" Jack asked.

"Some other kids we hang out with," Rory said casually.

"Do you mean the boys?" She watched as Jack looked at Maddie for an opinion.

"They're nice boys," Maddie said.

"Go, but home by nine. It gets dark and cold early. Keep your phone on."

"I know." She hurried to the beach.

She hadn't kissed Sam again since the first time. He held her hand on the bus, and she liked it. Sometimes he leaned in and whispered something in her ear. It made tingles down her spine. It differed from what she felt in her belly when he kissed her.

She met Sam alone, because Cole was at his Dad's house and she didn't know where Cassie was. He was waiting for her, and they walked towards the river. Once they were further down the beach, Sam reached out and took her hand.

"You had a nice day then?"

"Yeah, Maddie is great."

Rory texted with Sam from her room while Maddie and Jack discussed dinner with Steve. They made plans to meet for the first time alone. Was it their first date?

When they reached the end of the beach, they sat in the sand. Rory felt the cold sand through her pants.

"I've been looking forward to seeing you and..." Sam put his arm around her and pulled her closer.

"... And?"

Sam answered by putting his lips on hers. She sighed because she was afraid he didn't like kissing her and wouldn't want to again.

The second time he tilted his head more and captured her bottom lip between his and she captured his top lip. She liked this kiss better than the other ones. She felt butterflies flitting around her belly. It felt so good she didn't even feel bad about lying to her father.

As they continued, their kisses got better with practice. They walked back hand in hand until they were closer to the public lot. Even though it was dark, they didn't want to be seen. Sam walked her home and watched in the shadows while she went inside.

She was disappointed to see Maddie had left. Jack was watching the baseball game on the TV, although he was falling asleep.

"Did you have fun, kiddo?" He yawned.

"Yeah."

"You better not have been playing spin the bottle."

"No, spin the bottle." She quickly turned away hiding the smile she couldn't seem to wipe off her face.

He was curious to meet the guy Maddie used to date. She had shared enough tidbits Jack had a pretty good impression of what to expect. Steve didn't disappoint. What had Maddie seen in him? The guy was cocky especially since he was convinced Maddie would not run back to him. The new and improved Maddie wasn't interested in an arrogant son of a bitch. Jack laughed thinking of the way he tried to bait him by criticizing Jack for putting his kids first. There was no need to respond because in his mind Steve was making himself look bad on his own with no help.

Rory looked at him when Steve accused him of not working. Rory wanted him to tell Steve about his wealth or that he owned his company, but he saw no reason to share his personal business with a stranger. It occurred to him, he never shared those details with Maddie.

Steve felt jealous, but he felt something too. He wasn't sure if it was jealousy, but it was most definitely a need to protect her. Why did he feel possessive of his best friend?

Maddie came back to his house after the ice cream. Once Emma was in bed, Maddie said, "Jack I'm sorry he made those accusations."

"It was you he was rude to. Even if there was something between us, it would be none of his business. He was..." He stopped himself because he didn't want to be rude.

"He accused you of being lazy, but you are anything but."

"I know and he assumed I'm poor, but I definitely am not poor," he paused and then asked, "Have you heard of the game Castleland?"

"Yeah, all the middle school kids were playing it, but not so much lately."

"Good,." Jack hoped it would disappear.

"Why does Rory play?"

"No, not since... It was my game. I created it."

"Why would you be glad if it wasn't popular anymore?"

"Because we sold it, for an obscene amount of money. I was on a call finalizing the sale. That's why I didn't drive her."

He watched Maddie's eyes show her understanding.

"She was on cloud nine for days. She'd grown up poor and suddenly we had more money than we knew what to do with. I promised to work less and be home more. You see, I was one of those guys who worked ridiculous hours. I guess I kept my promise to be home."

Maddie sensed the impact of what he was saying and put her hand on his arm. He found having even platonic physical contact felt good. He covered her hand with his.

"Even before the game, the business was extremely successful. Financially, I don't need to work, but I like to. Adam and I have different strengths. I do all the complicated programming. Adam says although my production is lower, my value is still as high. We share the profits fifty-fifty, although that's because we shared the game equally too."

"Why are you telling me this? I never questioned you putting the girls over your work. I admire it."

"I thought you should know. Rory was on the verge of blurting it out. She looked ready to pounce."

"We both were." Maddie squeezed his bicep and made to leave.

"Hey, Mads. Don't feel bad about that guy. I'm sure he was worse tonight because he felt threatened."

"No, that's the way he is. I was too blind to see it and then too apathetic to do anything about it."

"I'm glad you did because you deserve so much better than him," Jack said as she was walking out the door.