Page 60 of Love Is Ale You Need

I shrug. “When I was your age, all I wanted to eat was cereal and chicken nuggets. I guess times have changed.” I push my plate away and rest my elbows on the counter. Next to me, Abby barks out a giggle. “What’s so funny?”

“You look like a squirrel.” She giggles again.

“Why a squirrel? I don’t sit like this?” I hold my arms in front of me, elbows bent, and let my hands dangle.

“You’re doing it now!” She cackles with more laughter.

“Fine. If I’m a squirrel, then your chipmunk.”

“I’m not a chipmunk.” She bursts out laughing again.

“Yes. You are. Your cheeks are like this.” I fill my cheeks with air as if I was a chipmunk hoarding acorns. “Alright, Chipmunk. Are you finished?” Her cheeks puff out and she nods. I chuckle. This kid is my new favorite.

I collect our plates and quickly wash them. Afterward, I close all the takeout containers and place them in the fridge. When I turn around, Abby’s gone. Immediately, my gaze jerks to the front door. Still closed. Rustling and banging sounds come from down the hall followed by the patter of footsteps.

“Want to do crafts with me?” She holds out a box filled to the brim with paper, markers, and paints.

“Uh. Sure. What are we doing?”

She sets the box on the counter and climbs up to sit on the stool. “I got all these different colored papers to make paper rings and necklaces.” Within five seconds the entire countertop is littered with paper in every color imaginable.

I now understand how kids can make a mess in such a short period of time. “Okay. You’ll have to teach me.”

Abby spends the next hour and a half showing me how to fold the paper perfectly to create a ring. Then how to fold a zig zag to create a necklace or bracelet. By the end, we had a pile of different colored paper jewelry.

“You should give my mom one.” Her big hazel eyes meet mine.

“Which one do you think she’d like?” I point to the pile of paper jewelry.

Her tongue peeks out from the corner of her mouth as she examines each paper item. “This one.” She holds out a purple and green ring.

“A ring. Does your mom like rings?”

She nods. “She has a really pretty one in her jewelry box.”

Shit. Does she still have her wedding ring? With how much dislike she has for Kyle, I can’t imagine she’s keeping it in hopes of reconnecting. What if it’s someone else’s? Like she has a collection of ex-husbands or ex-fiancés.

“Want to play a game?”

Abby’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. “Sure, Chipmunk. What are we playing?”

Her eyes light up with her toothy grin. “Pretty Pretty Princess.”

“Great! I’ve always wanted to be a princess.”

TWENTY-ONE

PRINCESS TREY

Rylee

When I return home, the apartment is dark, except for the soft glow of the television playing an animated princess movie. I drop my wallet on the counter and stroll into the living room. As I round the edge of the couch, Trey’s lying down, eyes closed. I tip-toe down the hallway and peek my head inside Abby’s room. She’s star fished in the middle of her bed. I softly close the door and make my way back to the living room.

I love you.I can’t believe I said that to him. I’m shocked there wasn’t a Trey shaped hole in my front door after I said that. The only reasonable explanation is I was going through the motions after saying it to Abby. I don’t love Trey. I can’t love Trey. Shit. Do I love Trey? I shove the thought away. Instead, I take this quiet moment to study the man before me. His dark hair is a rumpled mess, with strands poking through the plastic tiara on his head while his long, dark eyelashes fan out against his cheeks. If our friendship started seven years ago, I wouldn’t be as broken and maybe things between us would be different.

The cushion dips as I take a seat on the edge and smile. “Wake up, princess.” I gently shake his shoulder until his eyes pop open. He stretches his arms over his head before meeting my gaze.

“What time is it?”

---