Page 103 of Mr. Almost

Walking behind her, I follow her into her room. Mason is sitting in the middle of the floor as if they were having a tea party. He has a plastic crown on his head.

“Well, Your Majesty. You look dapper today,” I joke.

He looks over at me as if he just realized I was there. I see it then. Something is bothering him.

“Hey, Livvy. Sorry, I didn’t hear you come in.”

He stands, coming over to kiss me. I kiss him back, but I’m worried. Ari clearly heard me, so it makes me wonder what’s on his mind so much that he didn’t hear me come in.

“It’s okay. What do you think about going out for dinner? I have exciting news.”

“Oh? What happened?”

I smile up at him. “I got promoted. Not only am I on the payroll officially, but they offered me a management position.”

“That’s amazing, Liv. I’m so proud of you,” Mason tells me, kissing me softly. “Really, it’s the best news. Can we celebrate tomorrow, though? Now that you’re home, I have a meeting I need to get to.”

Pulling out his wallet, he hands me one of his credit cards. “Order dinner on me. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

He kisses me once more before he walks over and kisses Ari on the head. Within seconds, he’s out of the apartment. It has me wondering if he was even here.

“Has he been like that since he picked you up?” I ask Ari.

She shakes her head. “Since Uncle Max called. Something about a meeting. It was boring, so I tuned out.”

At least she validates what he said. I wonder what is going on that has him so distracted.

Pulling my phone out, I dial Chloe. She answers on the third ring.

“Oh no, are you okay? Did you break anything?”

“What? Chloe, are you okay?” I ask.

“I’ll be right there, Mom. Sorry, I really need to go. My mom fell in the shower. Call me?” I hear her say to someone in the background.

I start laughing, realizing she is using me as a reason to get out of a date. He must be really bad.

When she finally comes back on the line to me, she lets out a sigh. “It’s like you got my telepathic bat signal. Thank you.”

“Why didn’t you just text me to call you? You know I would have.”

“I know, but I thought you were at work. So what’s up?”

“I have amazing news and Mason dipped out, and I’m just confused.”

“Hmm. Sounds like an ice cream for dinner situation. Meet at the usual place?”

I smile. We used to do this a lot more before Ari, but we have done it a few times since she was born. Anytime one of us had a particularly rough day, we would meet at Graham’s Ice Cream Shoppe and eat ice cream for dinner. It’s completely unhealthy, but every once in a while, it’s needed.

“Yep. I’m going to grab some chicken nuggets for bug, then we will be there.”

“Good thinking. See you soon.”

It doesn’t take long to get Ari ready to go. She heard chicken nuggets and ice cream and basically went feral for it. She was ready to go before I was. After the small detour, we walk into the ice cream shop to find Chloe already at a table.

“Hey, Richie,” I call to the man behind the counter.

“Hey. Your usual?” he asks.

---