Page 41 of Mr. Almost

My daughter huffs and turns her back toward me and starts marching down the hall.

“I don’t want your help,” she says as she closes the door in my face.

“That’s fine, but I’m going to have to check your hair before you get out, and remember, you only need about a quarter-size of soap.”

I slide down the wall until I’m sitting on the floor.

Finally, a moment of silence. I don’t know what went wrong, but both Arianna and I woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.

Sometimes it sucks being an adult. You can’t pitch a fit like a child. No, you actually have to keep calm and be rational.

I groan when I hear my phone ringing from the kitchen counter. Slowly, I get off the floor and make my way down the hall.

Maybe I’ll get lucky, and whoever’s calling will hang up before I can answer, I muse.

A smile takes over my face when I see Chloe’s name on the screen.

“Hey stranger,” I say after I pick up.

“Oh good, you’re alive,” she teases.

I groan. “I know, I suck.”

Chloe laughs. “That’s a lie, and we both know it.”

“Must you turn everything sexual? Besides, I will, I’m just not a fan.”

“Right…” she drawls. “Now tell me, how are my baby and baby momma?”

“We’re fine.”

Chloe hums. “I don’t believe you.”

“Ari is just being a nightmare today. It’s fine.”

“You know, they say being a parent is a walk in the park…Jurassic Park, but a park nonetheless.”

“You’ve got jokes.”

“Always. You know, though, that her attitude isn’t personal, right?”

I walk back down the short hall and sit back down on the floor by the bathroom door.

“I do, but sometimes it’s hard to remember that.”

I smile to myself when I hear Ari singing aTrollssong in the shower.

“The storm will pass,” Chloe says lightly.

“I know. Tell me, how have you been? I haven’t seen you lately.”

“Do you miss me as much as I miss you?”

“More,” I tease.

Chloe laughs. “I’ve been all right. Just working and trying to stay out of your hair.”

“Why?”

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