Page 6 of The Infiniteness of Yesterday
She runs down the hall, the door to her bedroom slamming closed a second later. It doesn’t slam because she’s mad. It’s just Roe. She can’t do anything slowly or quietly.
“I wish I had half her energy.” Jameson shakes his head, unable to hide his smile any longer. He rubs the back of his head, ruffling his wavy hair. “It would help me during my long days stuck at my desk. She’s a force to be reckoned with.”
“Maybe it’s because she was born during one of the worst storms Santa Monica has ever seen,” I muse.
I stick my hands in the back pockets of my jean shorts, standing in front of him. At six-foot-four Jameson is a whole foot taller than me. I have to lean my head back to see him fully.
“I think she’s special. Like her mother.” He finally swoops in for a kiss.
He cups my cheeks in his hands, kissing me deeply. I feel it through my whole body. It’s nothing like the quick pecks we exchanged at Cool Beans this afternoon.
He doesn’t kiss me long because we both know tornado Roe will be zipping by any moment.
“I’m going to go pop the garlic bread into the oven,” I blurt, trying to ignore my desire for more than a kiss. “And cook the pasta.”
Things have been busy and even though it’s only been a few days I’m aching for his touch.
But sex will have to wait. For now, at least.
He chuckles, pulling off his tie that was already loose. “I’m going to shower and change really quick.”
Jameson might be a smarty pants when it comes to software and I know he loves his job, but he hates dressing up more than anything in the world. Even though we don’t officially live together, he spends enough nights here to keep clothes around. His apartment might be nicer, but with Roe it’s not like I can exactly sleepover unless she’s with her dad. This is her home.
Sticking the garlic bread in the oven, I warm the homemade spaghetti sauce I made earlier and set the water to boil for the pasta.
With that part taken care of, I grab Roe’s fallen backpack from the floor and pull out her homework packet as well as her planner I need to sign. She never remembers to have me sign it, but lucky for her I don’t often forget.
Flipping through the worksheets I knock on her bedroom door.
“You may enter.”
I stifle a laugh and twist the nob to find her sitting on the middle of her bed, surrounded by the millions of pillows she insists areabsolutely necessary—her words, not mine.
Her room is a little girl’s dreams. Despite money being tight, I managed to get her a nice white bed frame with a pale pink canopy above thanks to a thrift find. She wanted her walls painted a soft blue color except for the one behind her bed that’s white with pink polka dots. I know it’ll be a bitch painting over it whenever we move out, but it’s worth it to make her happy.
“Homework.” I wave the packet, and she hops off the bed, pushing her sandy hair out of her eyes.
“Ugh. I told Ms. Lenard it’s stupid that we go to school all day and then bring it home with us. It’s the worst. I want to play with my dolls.”
“Did you really say that?” I keep my tone stern even though I want nothing more than to laugh.
I don’t know where Monroe gets her spitfire personality from. Neither Spencer or I are shy, but we’re not bold and lacking a filter like the child we made.
“I’m not a liar, Mom. Of course, I told her.”
I press my lips into a thin line, trying not to let my laughter shake loose. “Did you get in trouble?”
I haven’t looked in her planner yet to sign off on it, but I won’t be surprised if there’s a note from her teacher.
“I had to put my card on orange. Orange, Mom. I went from green to orange. She skipped right over yellow.” She lets out an exasperated sigh and takes her homework from me.
“Get started on what you can. I’ll help you with the rest after we eat dinner.”
“I already did it with grandma. Obviously.” She rolls her eyes.
“Don’t sass me,” I warn. It’s like I have a teenager on my hands already. “Pick out your outfit for tomorrow, then. If you don’t, I get to choose.”
“Is Daddy taking me again? I asked him but he said he wasn’t sure if he could, and he’d let you know.”
