Page 83 of The Fadeaway
It’s more a plea to God than a real question for my son. But hey, ice cream is a small price to pay.
I park the car in the lot next to the theater and hold on to Christian as he skips toward the front entrance. Inside he pulls free. My backpack slips off my shoulder and I stop and adjust before chasing after him.
My mouth opens to call after him, but when I follow the path my son has taken, my eyes move up to the man he’s standing in front of. Christian bounces on the balls of his feet and Joel offers his fist, which Christian bumps with his own.
“Mom, I found the surprise! Joel is here.”
“This isn’t the surprise I had planned,” I tell him once I’ve closed the distance between us and look up to meet Joel’s smiling dark eyes. “But this is a nice surprise. What are you doing here?”
“Thought little man could use some company while you do your thing.”
I mouth thank you and he gives me a devious grin. One that tells me he’s going to take his thanks in sexual favors. Fine by me.
Tabitha and Brody are already on stage, scripts in hand.
“I gotta get up there. Christian, listen to Joel.” I use my sternest voice that falls on deaf ears. Though, I think Christian is so enamored by Joel he’d do just about anything he said. “I’ll be up front if you guys need me.”
“Actually, I was thinking I could take him to the house, play a little ball until you finish up.”
Christian’s eyes light up giving me very little room to say no.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, it’ll be fun.”
“Please, Mom?”
“Yeah, okay.”
Christian jumps and Joel catches him and tucks his little body under his arm, carrying him like a football.
“Break a leg.” He starts toward the door taking my son and my heart all in one swift swoop.
* * *
Joel
Christian talks a mile a minute as I carry him to my car. Chattering on about the basketball game he and his mom attended, asking if Ray Roadrunner will be at my house, and telling me how he hopes he grows up to be as tall as me. I’m opening the door for him when Kitty’s voice calls out, “Hey, wait up.”
I turn to watch her jogging across the parking lot. Tits bouncing and hair swaying from side to side. I’m straight up addicted to this chick. I can’t get enough, which is the only explanation for me showing up here to babysit her kid.
“He needs a car seat,” she says out of breath when she’s in front of us.
“Oh. Right.”
“I can give you the one from my car or…” The mischievous look on her face has my eyebrows shooting up.
“You want to swap cars?”
“It’s easier and faster than unhooking it from mine, dragging it over to yours…” She waves her hands around like moving the car seat is an all-day affair. I see past her thinly veiled logic. She bites her lip in an attempt to keep her hope and excitement from showing.
I let out a breath, watching my sanity float away with it. “Fine. I’ll take your car.”
“Yes!”
She passes over her keys and I already regret this decision.
“Be careful,” I warn.
