Page 16 of Hello Handsome
But she got out her phone. “Let me check my calendar… I’m scheduled evenings this week except for Friday.”
I frowned. “I told Fletcher I’d babysit Maya. Are you free this weekend?”
She shook her head. “How about next weekend? I’m off Saturday night.” Her brown eyes lifted to meet mine. A glance of sunlight coming through the windows caught them, casting a golden sun-ray within the irises, and it took me a moment to realize she was waiting for my answer.
I dipped my head in a nod. “I’ll see you then.”
9
AGGIE
My cart was loadedwith groceries as I steered by the small makeup section in the local grocery store early the next morning. Usually, I ignored it, so used to saving my money to spend on my kids or put into their college savings accounts.
Then, an idea struck me. If I could get a new lipstick or eye shadow pallet or something each week with my groceries, I could build up my collection over time as a small way to get used to investing inme. It had been so long since I’d put me first.
Since Enzo had left for basic training, I’d realized just how empty my life was without my kids. Work was all I had. That and obsessing about every interaction with Gray. I needed… more.
I took out a tube of lipstick and held it against my arm to see if it would look good with my complexion. The dark nude color seemed to blend with my skin tone. I sighed as I put it back. Finding what makeup I liked without feeling like it was too much was harder than I thought it would be.
I picked up another shade of lipstick, holding it against my arm.
Another dud.
My stepdad’s words ran through my mind. It was the night of my junior prom. The night I got pregnant with Isabella.
Mom was helping me curl my hair when he came home from work and saw all the makeup and hairstyling tools spread out in our living-room-turned-salon. He frowned at her and groused, “Shouldn’t you be picking up extra shifts?”
Mom replied saying, “It’s her prom. I want her to look pretty.”
His lips curled in a sneer. “Give up.”
The heavy weight of his judgment and my mother’s resulting silence settled over me as I grabbed a mud mask and continued to the checkout line.
Another mom I knew from Isabella’s class was leaning against the register counter, waiting for customers. She perked up when I came by, sending me a smile. Her perfect teeth contrasted her dark skin and gorgeous dark eyes. She had a silk scarf over her hair that matched the green T-shirt all the employees wore.
“Hey, Etta,” I said as I began loading the cold items onto the conveyor. The bags were already sweating, and I wiped my hands on my jeans before moving on to the canned food.
Each piece beeped as she expertly moved it across the scanner. “How’s it going?” she asked.
I twisted my lips to the side, not completely sure how to answer. I was good, but there were doubts creeping up in my mind. I was a single mom spending yet another evening alone. It brought up feelings of my life and how I might have done it differently given another chance, something moms were never supposed to question. “It’s been a day,” I finally said.
She chuffed. “I hear you.”
“Yeah?” I asked, loading up the rest of my things.
“Mhmm.” She weighed a bunch of bananas on the built-in scale. “Our AC busted last week, and it’s too much to replace right now. We have window units at home, and they’re workinghard, but not as hard as my sweat glands, if you know what I mean.”
“Sounds like torture.” Which had a thought crossing my mind. “Why don’t you grab one of those mud masks and come over Friday night? We’ll watch a movie in my AC.”
Her eyes widened in excitement. “Are you sure?”
I nodded. It had been so long since I’d had a true girlfriend. Working as much as I did at the diner, I spent all day socializing and was just ready to be with my kids when my shift ended. But now that the kids were gone, I realized how much I was missing adult friendship. Maybe I was lonely after all.
“I’ll bring a snack and some wine with that mask,” she said with a wink. “What time?”
“How about eight?” I suggested. I hoped it wasn’t too late, but I had to finish the dinner shift.
“Sounds great.” She read off the total, and I paid with my debit card, feeling excited. “See you then.”
