Page 137 of Take This Heart
“I’mtryingto handle it well. I hate that Bruce is involved. Ava can’t help it that he’s her dad and Milo can’t help it that he’s related to him either, but I really can’t stand the man. It’s even harder to remain objective about him, hearing the way he treated my mom when she got pregnant. Grandma Donna said he stopped speaking to my mom as soon as he found out and then turned people against her at school.” I shake my head. “Anyway…I have a sister and I’m not sure she wants to have anything to do with me.”
“She said she wanted to get to know you,” Erin says. “And I think she meant it. At least I’m hoping she does…so I don’t have to show her the muscle.”
We laugh and I’m glad that the mood lightens again.
Erin maneuvers the metal a little but doesn’t get the results she wants. “I should’ve stuck to that.” She points at our paintings.
“It’s not too late.” I hold up another canvas.
Erin moves to the paint and Juju sits propped on a stool, her chin leaning on her fist.
“How are things with Milo?” Juju asks.
“I feel like I’m getting asked all the hard-hitting questions tonight.” I take another long swig of wine.
“Because you have the exciting life.” Juju sighs.
She pours more wine into our glasses and opens another bottle.
“We have to deal with needy customers all day long…” she continues.
“You love the customers!” I elbow her. “Even the needy ones…like me.”
She grins. “I know. I do.” And then pouts. “But it’d be a lot more fun with a lover waiting to pounce on me the minute I got home.”
We all laugh.
“True that.” Erin holds up her glass and we all clink.
“It is pretty great,” I admit.
“So is that nonstop smile you’re wearing these days. After life-shaking news like a long-lost sister who bashed you in an art review, held Save the Otter shit over your head, and tried to set your property on fire…I’ve gotta say, you’re looking mighty happy,” Erin says, clinking our glasses again.
We crack up and empty our glasses.
“One more bottle?” Erin asks.
“Why not? It’s girls’ night,” I say.
“We can walk home. Is someone picking you up?” Juju asks.
“Milo’s waiting for me in his apartment.”
“Ah! See?” Erin yells. “Your hottie is sa-tis-fy-ING!”
For some reason, that makes us laugh harder.
“So are you basically living above my cafe?” Juju asks.
“I spend some nights there, but Milo has been staying at the house too. He pretends like he’s leaving and then comes in after everyone’s gone to bed.” I snort. “But this morning, when he pretended to ‘arrive’, my dad said, ‘Milo, you were snoring so loud last night, I could hear you all the way from my room!’ and Milo’s mouth dropped and his face got red, and my dad pointed at him and said, ‘Caught ya!’ And then he told him he hadn’t really heard him snoring but hehadseen him sneaking in one night and to just make himself at home already.”
We all laugh so hard we’re wheezing.
“Stop making me laugh. I’ve gotta go.” Juju runs, laughing all the way to the bathroom.
We start cleaning up. When Erin starts taking her stuff to the door so it’s all ready to go, I text Milo.
Iss been such a fin nighy. Missss yuu
