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“That’s what he said.”
The next thing I throw at them is a pen. “Be serious for just a second and let me tell you what happened.”
“Such a killjoy.” Jay waves a gallant hand. “Finish.”
“Anyway, he gets to the house within ten minutes of my phone call. Barrels in as if he’s S.W.A.T. coming into a raid. I was so preoccupied with the way he was with Isabel, I didn’t notice how he was dressed or who came through the door behind him.” I take another sip of my coffee and continue, “She’s really pretty, Jay. Nice, too.” Shaking my head, I resign to the fact that … she’s young, kind, and most likely carrying zero baggage. Unlike the U-haul I transport on my back. “She’s perfect for him.”
“Back it up, baby girl. Did you say he was on a date and dropped everything to come to your rescue?”
I nod. “Yes, he said he’d literally die for my baby.” I turn with pleading eyes to my best friend. “Die for her,” I whisper again. “So he settles her down and I tell him to leave, but he doesn’t.”
“No? Wasn’t he on a date?” Jay’s incredulous.
“Yes, and he called her a taxi. Said he was staying and wouldn’t take no for an answer. Then he said something else that shook me to my core.”
“Oh, man, I see the ice around your private parts is melting.”
With a leaky nose, I nod. “‘Tis true.” Staring out into space, I relay the rest of the evening. “When he said he’d die for Isabel”— my brows push together as I try to swallow the lump of emotion caught in my throat —“he added, ‘and her mother, also’.” I blow out my cheeks and repeat it just so I can hear it again. “Her mother, also.” My nose stings. “Like, who says that, Jay?”
“Someone who wants to show you his monster dick.”
“No, he loves his job too much to fuck it up. Fraternization between caregivers and guardians is strictly prohibited. It nulls the contract, and both parties would be responsible for paying hefty fines to the agency.” My vagina whispers, worth it. My brain threatens to dry her out if she says anything else. “I’m pretty sure he was just being a good guy. I know how much he cares about Isabel, and me by extension.” Pulling my hair high on my head, I wrap it into a sloppy knot, not caring who sees me like this. I have more important things on my mind. “He’s probably going to get a restraining order put on me. We’ll have to exchange custody of Isabel in a police department parking lot.”
When I look over to my friend, they’re not commiserating with me like I thought they would. Jay’s face is turning red because they’re biting their cheek so hard, trying and failing not to laugh at me.
Whatever.
“Don’t you roll your eyes at me, Mars Bars. You wanna know what I think?”
“Does a bear shit in the woods?” I click my tongue against the roof of my mouth. “This is why I come to you with all my life’s problems. So you can fix them for me.”
“Job be damned, he’s probably happy that you saw his monster cock. In fact, he probably can’t wait to show you how it works.” Jay proceeds to act like they’re riding a raging bull, lassoing me with an imaginary rope. “Yee-haw, baby.”
“You’re so full of it,” I huff, then a smile cracks over my face before I burst out laughing.
My best friend may be a jokester, but they’re rarely wrong.
They predicted that Aubry would follow me to Chicago. She did.
Then there was the time they told me my new boyfriend would turn out to be a dirty jagoff. It was Brad, and he did.
Most recently, they knew I was having a girl before gender was revealed. I did.
I sober.
If I want to keep Remi, it’s going to have to be up to me to hold a respectable distance from my daughter’s caregiver.
I’m not going to steal little moments and watch him. I’m not going to speak to him unless it’s absolutely necessary. I’m not even going to call him Manny anymore. It’s too personal.
If none of that works? Well, then I’m going to bring my A-game—make myself as unappealing and revolting as I can.
Easy peasy.
Chapter 9
Queen of Hearts
Mae
