Page 76 of Tattoo My Heart
“Done with what?”
“With Evie,” he shrugs, almost as if he is embarrassed to ask me. “These chicks were up all night talking about this. I’m tired.”
“No, I am not fucking done,” I spit out, completely offended he would even think so. “But I had to step away for a bit. We were both angry. I didn’t want shit to escalate.”
“Well, it escalated without you there,” James informs me. “They would not shut up about it.”
I start laughing. “Is that why you’re here now?”
“Carrie said she’ll lock me out of the house and fight me for full custody of the baby if I tell you anything.” He shakes his head at me, looking completely shocked. “I think they’re both crazy. Honest to fucking God.”
“I can’t believe this is happening either,” I confess. “It’s been a cluster from the get-go. I should’ve never signed up for that app. It’s all your fault,” I point my finger at James for good measure.
He gets defensive. “How was I supposed to know it would turn into this shit show?”
“The signs were always there, man.” I spread my arms wide. “There was no way this could’ve ended well for anybody.”
“Then why the hell did you let me talk you into it?” he deadpan. The surprise on his face makes me laugh. He didn’t expect for me to turn it all around on him.
“You need to fix it.”
“Nothing’s broken,” I make sure to say. “But yeah, I’ll get it all sorted out.”
“Before the party, I hope,” he adds, panic obvious on his face.
“Before or after, it doesn’t matter…”
“Yes, it does,” he insists. “This will be our first holiday with the baby. I don’t want to spend it with Evie moping in my backyard.”
“How’s she gonna mope in your backyard? She’ll be at this party,” I remind him.
“I wouldn’t put it past her to just refuse to go. She’s a stubborn one.” James assesses me thoughtfully. “Good luck with that.”
I grin at the reminder. “She is stubborn,” I agree. “And feisty as all hell. I love everything about her.”
“That’s great to hear, man, really great.” The relief in my friend’s voice is palpable. “I don’t want to fight with Carrie over this. I don’t even know how the two of us got thrown in the middle of your drama.”
I shrug at that. “Well, it was you who talked me into theHolidatesdeal after all.”
“Swear to fuck,” James shakes his head at me, “if I ever show signs of stupidity again, just kick me in the nuts and leave me there to suffer. That’ll teach me a lesson.”
“I’ll be happy to,” I promise.
He opens his mouth to respond to that when Micki raps her knuckles on the doorjamb to my office.
“Sorry to interrupt,” she smiles at me. “But there’s someone here who says she needs to speak with you right away. She doesn’t really seem to be your type though. I didn’t know you were into chicks with…”
“What do you know about what type Cal is into?” Carrie’s voice sounds from somewhere in the hallway, and James freezes in his chair. “Get out of my way, lady, before I run you over with the stroller.”
With her jaw about to hit the floor in shock, Micki turns her head to stare at me.
“She’s fine,” I assure her. “Let her through.”
Micki refuses to move. “This is your girl?”
“Does it matter whose girl I am?” Carrie demands to know. “What are you, his guard dog? Do you have to run a background check on me before I get to speak with Cal?”
Micki blushes to the roots of her hair. It is obvious that she planned on saying something else to Carrie, but now she is rethinking it. She’s been put on the spot, and, despite her usual self-confidence, she doesn’t feel comfortable in this situation.
