Page 89 of Enough
“Well, I don’t know how exactly one pisses off, but I swear to you on my red front door and my heart of hearts that I have absolutely nothing more to do with this than giving you the tickets. Oh, and a limo will be picking you up at 5:00P.M.It’s an hour and a half drive to the theater.”
“You swear you’re not paying for a single thing?” I question.
“Ev, do I look like a bank? For Pete’s sake!”
Gwen and I almost jump out of our seats at once to hug Kay. She laughs as we throw our arms around her. We could use a night out together. It’s been forever since we had some quality girl time.
“The dresses are included?” Gwen asks in surprise.
“I guess so, shoes too. You just have to give your names at the register.”
We brim with excitement and almost jump up and down like children who won a trip to Disney World.
“We’d better go. We have a soccer game to get to,” Kay announces with a wave of her hand.
“Thank you, Gram,” I say as I pull her arm toward me. “Have I told you yet today just how much I love and appreciate you?”
“Oh, songbird… I know just how you feel about me because it’s exactly how I feel about you!”
I almost cry, but Kale charges down the stairs and stops dead in his tracks when he sees the overflowing emotion in the room.
“Did somebody die?” he asks.
“Kale…” I laugh. “No, we’re just happy.”
“Then why does it look like everyone’s about to cry?”
“We’re girls,” Gwen tells him. “We’re emotional beings. Sometimes we cry when we’re happy and sometimes when we’re sad. You better get used to it. Someday you’re going to have a girlfriend.”
He rolls his eyes as he pushes past us toward the laundryroom to get his shoes, and we hear him mumble, “Women…”
We all laugh at him and he turns to offer his mega-watt smile. I’m not sure he’s happy with the hugs and kisses he receives from each one of us, but he handles it like the true little man he’s becoming.
When we arrive at the game, I immediately search for Nick. I’m surprised by how much I miss him. I haven’t seen him since he showed up with coffee, and although we’ve spent a few hours on the phone, my heart almost aches to see him again. He’s asked me repeatedly to go out with him tonight, and I told him I couldn’t because I didn’t want to ask so much of Kay, but now I feel guilty about telling him I’m going out with Gwen instead.
I park the car and the five us climb out of the van. In the distance I see Mike and Nick in deep conversation. Mike’s arms are flailing and Nick’s are crossed and steady. I can’t help but worry about what’s going on. Gwen notices too.
“Oh shit, what’s that all about?”
“I don’t know,” I mumble, not taking my eyes off of them. “Can you get the stuff for me? I’m going to find out.”
The closer I get to them, the more people I notice staring in their direction. Mike seems angry, and Nick is immobile and glaring at Mike like he’s the dumbest person on the planet.
As I approach them, they both turn in unison. Mike rolls his eyes and Nick smiles my smile.
“What’s going on over here?” I ask. “People are staring at you two!”
“Nothing, babe. Everything’s fine,” Nick assures.
“Babe?” Mike questions. “So now she’s your babe?”
“What the fuck, Mike?” I hush loudly as I pull on his arm. “What’s your deal?”
“I’m not going to have this guy hanging around my kids.”
Nick rolls his eyes.
“Okay, first of all, who said he was hanging around my kids? And secondly, if he were, what business would it be of yours? I don’t remember you asking my permission for Krista to meet them.”
