Page 76 of Love, Luck & Clusterf*ck

“Un-fucking-believable.” I scrubbed my fingers over my face. The entire truck snafu stemmed from Christa trying to convince me of him screwing around and it wasn’t even true.

“My whole freak-out in the car just spilled out because I felt bad about everything. And then I thought it all could’ve been avoided if you would’ve just been honest from the start. You know, about Stephen.”

“Seriously, Christa? Are you saying this is all my fault? What part of telling you day in and day out that I’m with Dre don’t you understand?And Stephen and I are just friends.”

I practically shouted that last part. I didn’t mean to get angry at her. I was more angry at myself. How could I have let all this happen? And maybe the Stephen comments hit a little too close to home, but dammit!

She took my hand. “I’ve been a horrible friend. I’m so sorry.” She started crying and I started to soften. “I made you do something you didn’t want to do.”

“You’re not even close to horrible. You were only looking out for me.” I pulled her over to the couch and wrapped my arms around her. “And you didn’t make me do anything. I could’ve said no.”

“But….” She cried harder. When she eased up, she said, “Everything’s good now, with his truck?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“You still won’t say anything, right? I know you probably feel shittier now, and so do I, but I still think nothing good will come out of telling him. He’ll just get pissed off, and what would that solve?”

I didn’t respond. How fucked up was this? I knew that, in the grand scheme of things, we hadn’t done anything life-shattering, but Dre loved that truck like his baby. He had an unhealthy attachment to it, and I didn’t think he’d ever forgive me for messing with it. I wasn’t sure I’d ever forgive myself.

“Please, Perry? Promise me again.”

“I promise.”

The tower crashed down for the umpteenth time that morning, followed by a mass of giggles. I didn’t know whose were louder—mine or hers.

Emily and I were sitting on the floor. I was building the blocks, and she was knocking them down. Every time I thought she’d had enough, she’d point at me and blow out a ‘p’ sound telling me to do it again. We were having the best time.

Everything was good. Shiny new day and all. Christa had left early that morning for a seminar and wouldn’t be back until late. After she’d finished crying, and we’d finished talking, the air had cleared. Things were back to normal. And in a matter of hours I’d be with Dre again, and I was determined to make things right.

“Pa.” Emily waved her hands around. She couldn’t say my full name yet, but I wouldn’t expect her to at barely a year old. I blew a raspberry on her belly, and she grabbed my hair and tugged.

The doorbell startled me and she laughed, pulling harder. She probably thought she was the one who’d caused me to jump and wanted to see it again. I wondered if Dre had changed his mind. How outrageous would that be?

“Who’s at the door, Emily?”

“Doh.”

“Come on, let’s go see.” I picked her up and carried her there.

She pointed. “Doh.”

“Who do you think it is?” I peeked through the small window.Uh… what?Emily started bouncing in my arms like she couldn’t contain her excitement anymore.

I opened the door, swallowing down the butterflies trying to escape through my throat.

“Hi.” Emily waved.

“Stephen, what are you doing here?” He gave us both a bewildered look.

“Hi,” she said again.

Stephen smiled. “Hi.”

“This is my niece, Emily,” I told him. “She’s keeping me company today.”

He took her little hand and shook. “Nice to meet you, Emily.”

My heart damn near melted.

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