Page 64 of Outlaw Heartstrings
Before I can figure out a way to apologize, Alba lets out a loud yawn. “Sorry,” she cringes, looking a little embarrassed. “I had a hard day at my cleaning job. And I’m retaking my realtor exam soon, so I still need to study.”
I let my cheeks fill up with air before expelling it all. I hate, hate, hate that Alba works so damn hard, day and night, to take care of Jagger. Lincoln has already set up some investment things for my son. But I feel like I should be doing more.
Because what I’m seeing here? I know it’s only the surface. Alba has been handling all this responsibility since she was practically a kid herself.But tonight isn’t the right time to broach this conversation.
I push myself to my feet. “I’ll go ahead and get out of your hair.” I bend down quickly, scooping the fallen donuts off the ground and stuffing them back into the paper bag to throw away.
Alba smiles at me. “Goodnight, and thank y—”
“Don’t you dare say it,” I only halfway joke.
I’m standing at the bottom of the porch steps when I turn back to her, pinning her with my stare. “I’m the one who owes you. Seriously. I just want to say thank you for all the sacrifices you’ve made to build a life for my son. It means more than you know.” One corner of my mouth tilts into a smile. “Goodnight, Tiny Tiger. Get some sleep.”
23
ALBA
Iscoop my chip right into the dish of homemade guacamole, and then I wash it down with a hearty sip of my cocktail. Also homemade and a little too strong if you ask me.
Jules dances her way across the kitchen and bumps her hip into mine. “What do ya say? Do ya like it? Huh? Huh?”
“Good. Really good,” I cough out. “Well, aside from the fact that it just fried off a couple of my nose hairs.”
My bestie chugs down another gulp from her own margarita glass. She coughs through her nostrils. “Ugh! Who needs nose hairs anyway? Nose hairs are overrated.”
STOP BELIEVING PEOPLE WHO TELL YOU YOU SUCK, her T-shirt advises today.
I like that advice, I decide.
At the family dinner the other night, Easton’s mother and mine both agreed that us girls needed to get together—without the guys and without the kids.
When I showed up tonight, looking so damn sad and pathetic as I came over to drop Jagger off for his first night at his dad’s, Monica felt sorry for me. She told me to round upsome girlfriends, and now, here we are, having an impromptu girl’s night in Easton’s guest house, and Mama Raines is playing host..
Jules is here, as well as Laney, my coworker from the hospital. I didn’t think she would be able to get off work on such short notice, but we somehow caught her on her night off.
She’s still relatively new in town, so Jules and I try to invite her out anytime we’re doing something—which to be honest, isn’t often with my own head-spinning schedule.
Tammy from the diner also showed up, and I can tell that my mom is really happy that her friend was able to make it. After having such a rough few years, I’m glad to see my mother forming a little crew of her own.
Jules appointed herself to be in charge of mixing the drinks, and the rest of us each brought a dish or two to our potluck style girl’s night.
Despite all the delicious food spread out on the table in front of us, with Jules’s strong drinks, it’s not long before we’re all a little tipsy. Even the grandmas, too.
But Monica promises that she’ll have one of her sons play designated driver later, so we just carry on drinking and gossiping about work and men and life. It’s nice to feel free for once.
It helps that Jagger is with Easton for the evening. I don’t have to worry about him. I know he’s in good hands. Slowly, Easton is helping me realize that I need to make time every now and then for a little fun in my life.
Tammy props her feet up on the stool in front of her. “Next time, we’re having a girl's night at the bar or something. All I do is go from work to home, and repeat again. I haven't gotten any ‘D’ in months. I’m getting sick of all my condoms turning to dust at the bottom of my panty drawer.”
“For some of us, it’s been longer than a few months,” Laney laughs, pointing her thumb into her chest.
I throw my head back and giggle drunkenly. “Ha! Some of us havenevergotten any ‘D’.Ever.So you ladies better count your blessings and stop complaining.”
“What?!” Tammy’s eyes bulge as she tops off Monica’s glass.No doubt she’s thinking back to when she walked in on Easton and me in the elevator. But she doesn’t bring it up. Thankfully.
Laney gets a faraway look in her eyes and winces. “Yikes.Never?Well, you’re drop dead gorgeous, so if you can’t get laid, then I’m shit out of luck. I’m not even that picky. I’m just starting to think there aren’t enough men in this town.”
“Amen to that,” my mother mumbles into her own drink.
