Page 18 of The Infiniteness of Yesterday
“How come you’re always Daddy and I rarely get called Mommy anymore?”
He shrugs, stuffing his hands in his designer jeans. They fit his frame so perfectly I can’t help but wonder if they’ve been tailored specifically for him. “No idea. I must be special.”
He flashes a grin, his dimples winking at me. Those dimples always used to make me weak in the knees. Forget used to, they still do. I’m certain dimples have that effect on all women.
“You can come in,” I tell him, feeling bad that he’s still standing in the doorway.
He shakes his head. “Can’t. I have to meet Lydia.”
It takes everything I have not to roll my eyes.
Lydia St. Clair.
Big boobs.
Big lips.
Big teeth.
And hair so red that it’s as far from natural as you can get, but everything about her is already fake so why not her hair too?
Lydia has been Spencer’s PR person for around five years now, and I’ve hated her for all that time. When we were together, I used to think I was insecure and jealous. As a new young mom, I didn’t take well to her fawning over my boyfriend and dragging her claw like nails all over him. But even after we broke up thefeeling never went away. Spencer can’t see it, but that woman is vile.
Clearing my throat, all I say is, “Hope that goes well for you.”
His amused chuckle fills the air. “You still hate her, don’t you?”
I pinch my lips. “Why would I hate her? I have no reason to hate her.” I tilt my chin up.
Spencer’s amusement doesn’t wane. “Whatever you say. Roe, I have to go,” he calls out, and our daughter comes bounding over to him a second later.
She crashes into his legs, hugging him tight. “Don’t go, Daddy. Can’t you stay? Maybe we could have dinner just the three of us.”
Hurt flits across his face and I look away pretending I didn’t see it.
“Not today, Princess. I have a lunch meeting so I can’t stay.”
She blinks her big round blue eyes up at him. “Can’t you cancel?”
I hear Spencer’s heart break. Kids have the tendency to do that to you with only a few simple words. “No, I’m sorry, sweetie. It’s important. But maybe if Mommy is okay with it, I can pick you up and take you to school in the morning?”
Roe turns those dangerous blue orbs on me that manage to get her everything she wants. “Oh, please, Mom, can Daddy take me tomorrow?”
“Of course.”
“Yay!” She jumps up and down, gives a twirl, and hugs him again before she’s gone in a flash.
Spencer takes a step back, tilting his head down slightly so his copper-colored hair falls over his eyes.
“We’ll see you in the morning.” I grab the door to close it.
“Wait,” he whispers so softly I’m not sure he actually wanted me to hear.
“Yeah?” I hesitate, my eyes narrowed.
He clears his throat, his shoulders rising closer to his ears like he’s nervous or something. Twisting his lips back and forth, he meets my eyes. “I’m sorry.”
I blink back at him, my bitchy side wanting to snap,“For what?”But I know what he’s sorry for, so I don’t say that. “Don’t be. Everything happens for a reason, right?” I force a smile, closing the door.
