Page 72 of When We Met

“No,” he mumbles, his voice barely heard of the sharp ping of a revving two-stroke sound in the shop.

I turn to see Rhett on the mini bike. “You’re going to let her marry that pediatrician?”

He shrugs, watchful of Rhett riding through the shop on a mini bike with Sev. At least she’s wearing a helmet. “Dude, do something. The wedding is coming up.”

“I have plenty of time. It’s not for a couple months.”

“Still….”

“Still what?”

“I don’t know. Just do something or you’re going to be miserable.”

He reaches for a towel on my toolbox and wipes his face. “You’re one to talk.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re miserable.”

He has a point. “Which is why I’m tellingyouto do something. Don’t be like me. What does Josie say?” Josie is Jace’s twin sister. She’s also best friends with Abbi and has no idea that Abbi and Jace had been fucking each other all through high school. How, I’m not sure.

“Nothing. She’s too caught up in planning her best friend’s wedding to know I’m losing my shit over it.”

“You could have said something before she left,” I point out.

He clicks his tongue and throws the towel he had at my face. “And you could fuck that girl in there and marry her, but you probably won’t because you’re a pussy.”

I shoot him a warning look, partly because he’s right, and the other,obviously. “I sign your paychecks, asshole.”

“Whatever.” Sighing, he pockets his cell phone and then leaves. I think about what he said. I’m miserable. Am I? I’ve spent the last three years raising kids and working my ass off. I wouldn’t say I’m miserable, but these last few days with Kacy have proven to me that I don’t have much of a life outside of my kids.

Or privacy.

All that gets me thinking about ways to get Kacy to stay longer. Andnotget a hotel room.

The day I had kids was the day they became my allies for lying. It’s called parent code. Look it up. It’s a thing. I shouldn’t have to ask them to lie for me. They’re my kids. I can make them do what I want. And that includes lying for me.

I also knew after the tire incident Camdyn would be no help. Damn kid had a conscience.

Sev, on the other hand, she tried to cut my hair with a knife the other day. She doesn’t give a fuck about consequences.

With her sweaty hair matted to her face and smelling like gasoline, I level Sev a serious look, hoping she picks up on it. “What’s the one thing you want more than anything in the world?”

Her eyes widen. “A sword.”

“Done.” Don’t freak out. I never said it’d be a real one.

She holds out her hand to shake mine. “Done.”

“Now act like you broke your ankle.”

“How do I do that?”

“Limp.”

“Like this?”

“No. I mean like Nana Mel when she threw her back out.” She tries again, and it looks as if someone detached her leg from her body. “What are you doing? I said, your ankle. Not your hip.”

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