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I feel like I was irresponsible and let work distract me from my personal obligations.
In the end, I go back to the hotel alone. On automatic, I get dressed and head for the arena, because there’s work to do and everything is behind schedule because of me.
Chapter Eighteen
ETHAN
After we handed the Tampa Bay Sunhawks their asses on Saturday, we all had Sunday off to spend with our families.
I’m divided about whom to spend time with, but Mia makes the decision easy when she decides to join Amanda and me in taking Senna to a theme park.
Mia and Amanda get along naturally. There’s no cattiness, no venom. Amanda seems genuinely happy about Mia and me, which is so weird I’m on the verge of freaking out.
Between rides, I buy Senna a churro and get a soft drink for myself. We sit on a curb while the women sit on a nearby bench, chatting nonstop.
“Is your mom like this with her friends back home?” I ask Senna, watching him get cinnamon on his shirt as he eats.
“Dunno,” he says, still chewing. “Mom doesn’t have friends.”
“Really?” I raise my eyebrows. “And what does she do when she isn’t taking care of you?”
Senna shrugs and takes another big bite. “I don’t know, dad. I’m not there.”
I take a moment to savor my drink and think about the situation.
Amanda and I met still in high school, where she had plenty of friends. She was popular, and we were crowned King and Queen at prom because of it, but the moment we started dating, I realize now I became the center of her life.
We got married, and she was the perfect wife. Then she got pregnant, and Senna’s needs came first. I didn’t say a thing, not realizing that she had cultivated nothing for herself but the relationship with her son.
I’m glad she has found a friend in Mia.
We stay until the parade, the last event of the day, and then head to the airport to see off Amanda and Senna. I hold a very sleepy boy in my arms while Amanda checks in the luggage.
“I’ll miss you,” Mia says, hugging her.
“Oh, I’ll be back next weekend.” Amanda reassures with a soft squeeze of Mia’s shoulder.
“Buddy…” I gently shake Senna awake. “Time for you to go through security. You’re too big for your mom to carry you.”
He still has his eyes closed as I put him on the ground. Barely knowing what he’s doing, he gives his hand to his mom and prepares to leave.
“Bye-bye, daddy…” Senna says mid-yawn.
“Bye, buddy!” I say, holding back a chuckle.
They disappear into the long line and Mia wraps her arm around my waist, calling for my attention. I look at her and see longing in those bright eyes — because we haven’t touched each other all day. So I kiss her passionately, making her sway on her feet.
“Wanna grab a bite?” I offer as I pull back.
“Here?” Mia raises an eyebrow. “It’s so crowded and expensive!”
“Hmm,” I pout. “I never get the chance to parade you around for all to see…”
She narrows her eyes. Shaking her head, she says “Alright, Mister… But we can’t take too long. The hotel is an hour away from here, and I’m spent from today.” Mia stifles a yawn and rubs her eyes, looking more tired than usual.
We walk around, but I seem more interested in it all than her. She just giggles dispiritedly when I poke fun at tourists. She refuses to let me get her any items from the shops, and when we talk about what to eat for dinner, she doesn’t make up her mind about where.
Something is odd. And this time, I’m determined to find out what.
