Page 50 of Feels Like Home

“She’s really giving you the boys? Nofighting?”

“Oh, she’s fighting. Dirty. She’s taking the cabin. She decided to top off her year of bitchiness by taking something the boys have loved since they were babies. She told us when she picked up her stuff. It was either the cabin or the boys, and I wasn’t willing to continue to fight. I want the boys, and she knowsit.”

“Can’t you just look for a differentcabin?”

I glance over at James who’s now leaning on his knees, his beer bottle dangling between hisfingers.

“Could. But this one’s been in my family forgenerations.”

He whistles. “Exes, man. They’re a real joy, yeah? There’s a reason she’s in your rearview mirror. Keep looking forward.” He tips his beer in my direction, and I return thegesture.

“Right. Heather didn’t even like it there. She’s just doing it out of spite. And I think she caught wind that I was moving on — that I was hoping to keep things going with Christine and wanted to act like a supreme bitch one moretime.”

“How’d they take it?” Josh asks, motioning his head toward thebasement.

“Not good. They both yelled. A lot. Which was good. They needed to get it out, and Heather heard firsthand what her actions did tothem.”

After Heather left and Christine came over, it was like the calm before the storm. Over the course of the next week, the boys went from sullen to pissed off to happy then back to sullen again. It was like living with a couple of hormonal teenage girls starting their periods. It made me feel for Barrett, having Maggie in the house and for Christine having to deal with that all on her own when Bri was going throughit.

That’s when the decision to go away to the cabin came to mymind.

A change of scenery had to be good for all ofus.

Barrett grunts. “Good. Serves herright.”

“That’s what I figured. Called Christine after she left. She didn’t hesitate. Jumped in the car, came over. I walked in from the back yard to see the boys practically sitting on her lap, all three of them huddled together on the floor as she held them while they cried.Man…”

“And that’s when you knew,” James says, eyes boring intome.

One single nod. “And that’s when Iknew.”

“All right men, I think we’ve had enough girly chats for the evening. Wanna play some poker?” Josh asks the three ofus.

We all agree, and for the next few hours, I lose my ass at some Texas Hold‘em, my mind drifting to Christine, as usual. I know that as soon as I leave here, I’ll end up going to Christine’s house because I can’t go a day without seeingher.

16

Christine

Ilove havingthegirls over. It’s good for the soul and right now, with the way my head is spinning over my building feelings for Andy, and our trip to the cabin for spring break, I think it’sneeded.

Lauren is blending up another pitcher of margaritas, her face matching my own, white with the mask we just applied during our at-home spaday.

I glance over at Tess, her face black with the mud facial she applied earlier, her one hand in a nail light that she brought from home while the rest of us mess around with each other’s nails to get them ready to bepainted.

Carly just emerged from my bathroom, wet washcloth in hand as she continues to carefully pat off the black mud that was just on herface.

“What’s up with you and Andy?” Tess asks, her expression expectant; clearly she’s not going to let me get by with not disclosing what’s on my mind today. Not that I would expect any different fromher.

I shrug, feeling the mask on my face tighten and hoping that it hides the blush on my face. “I don’t reallyknow.”

“Pinocchio.”

I almost roll my eyes at how predictable Tessis.

Lauren crosses her arms and raises her eyebrows at me, the white mask cracking on herforehead.

“We’rewaiting.”

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