Page 50 of Embers in Our Past

“No, it’s fine. I shouldn’t have called. I’ll call someone else.” She continues to sniffle.

“It’s fine. I will be there in thirty minutes, okay?” I reassure her.

“Okay. Thank you.”

“See you soon,” I tell her before hanging up.

The moment I end the call, I smile to myself because she called me first. This might just be the in I need.

“Wow, this is really upsetting you, isn’t it?” Abby is fully bawling when she opens the door.

“Well, my day just keeps getting worse. I sat down to have some of my favorite ice cream, and I forgot I ate it all last night.” She continues to cry, and I can’t help the horrified look I give her in return. “Don’t look at me like that, Clay. I’m growing a human! I can’t control what’s happening,” she says, and I put my hands up in surrender.

“I didn’t say anything,” I explain.

“You don’t have to. You’re saying it all with your eyes.”

“Why don’t you show me the machine that started this horrific day for you,” I say, and she glares at me before turning on her heels and walking back toward her washer and dryer.

She points to the machine, and I inspect everything before assessing the damage.

“Do you happen to have a flashlight?” I ask.

“I think Malloy left one here last time he came over,” she says as she looks around.

“Malloy’s been here?” I can’t help the irritation in my tone.

“Clay, stop with the jealousy. I told you, he’s my friend. I’m allowed to have friends.” She opens cabinets in the hallway, finally finding the flashlight I need.

“You’re right. I just don’t love that it’s Malloy, that’s all,” I reply as she hands me what I need.

“I don’t know why you don’t like the guy. He’s been nothing but kind to me,” she says, watching me inspect the machine.

“I don’t get the best vibe from him, that’s all.”

“Well, he’s not the one I have an issue with.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask, looking over at her.

“It just means that I think you’re not giving Malloy a chance. You’re judging him too quickly. And I think you should give him a shot. He’s a good person.”

I stop what I’m doing. “He was making a move on my girl, so I don’t really feel like being so kind.”

“First of all, Clay, I’m not your girl. Second of all, he wasn’t making a move on me. He was just hanging out with me. It wasn’t what it seemed. I told you this so many times already.” She rolls her eyes.

She’s fucking high if she thinks she’s not my girl.

“Really, Abby? That’s what you think?” She nods her head with a finality. I know her stubbornness to dig her heels in the ground. My ex-wife thinks she has won this battle. Little does she know I can play dirty.

I take one final look at the machine and confirm what the issue is. I put the flashlight down and grab the tools I need while Abby watches me attentively.

“You think you can fix it?” she asks, hopefulness oozing in her tone.

“Mmhm,” I answer casually.

Before I say anything else, I reach my arms behind my head and grab the collar of my shirt and yank it over my head.

“Clay, what are you doing?”

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