Page 13 of Savage in the Sweets
Since when didparenting become so difficult?I wonder as I pull into an empty parking spot.
Michael sits with the wrapped gift in his hands, refusing to look at me after the scolding I gave him.
“I know that you don’t understand why I’m so angry, but you can’t go around telling people you’re buying a girl a gift so you can get laid. In fact, you just don’t go around telling people you’re getting laid.”
“But the guys at the gym do,” Michael spits out.
“Thank you for making me aware of that.”
“I don’t see why I can’t have a sleepover. All the other kids do!”
“Getting laid does not mean sleepover. If you’d like a sleepover, we can arrange one.”
Michael’s face slowly turns in my direction. “Then what does getting laid mean?”
Goddammit!
After running various scenarios of how to discuss copulation with my son, I say, “We’ll discuss that another time. It’s complicated.”
“Is it like killing someone?” he asks. “They’re laid out?”
“Sure. That’s what it means.”
I unbuckle my seatbelt, grab our beach bag, and exit the vehicle, assisting Michael from the car. As soon as he spots the cyclone of children running along the beach, he takes off, leaving me to carry everything to the tables.
The parents are clustered together, the mothers eyeing me discreetly. I’m used to this, thanks to my physical attributes and positive interactions with children.
After setting the gifts down on the table, I watch as the children gather on the playground equipment, deciding when a good time would be for me to butt in and send them scrambling.
I’m approached by a blonde woman who offers up her hand. “Hi, I’m Stephanie, April’s mother. I believe you’re Michael’s father.”
“Pleased to meet you. My name’s Colin,” I say, accepting the handshake. “So it’s your daughter who’s single-handedly bringing back the nineties?”
“Xena? Yeah, I don’t know where that came from.” She brushes a strand of hair behind her ear.
I catch a bubbly redhead staring at me. She was at the board meeting, shamelessly eye-fucking me as I was talking about the playground equipment.
Stephanie says, “So, I haven’t seen you before. Where are you from?”
“About two hours from here, near the cape. We relocated about a month ago. I’m opening up the gym across from the school: Might and Mind.”
Her mouth gapes open slightly, and if I’m not mistaken, a look of panic fills her eyes. “Ya don’t say…”
A woman approaches with a huge box in hand.
She’s struggling, so I rush to help, relieving her of the box only to find that it’s Lacy Savage.
And just like that, the birthday party got exponentially more complicated.
Anger, frustration, distrust, guilt, disgust, and desire short-circuit my brain, and all I can do is look at the Savage beauty—and yes, I do mean beauty—standing before me.
She’s wearing a bikini top and shorts so tiny it’s a wonder she decided to wear them at all.
A man jogs up to her, eyeing me warily. Perhaps a boyfriend? He looks familiar, and it takes me a moment to place him. He’s the guy that stood up for Lacy at the school board meeting.
I don’t like the way he’s looking at me like. It’s as though he’s laid claim to Lacy, and he’s guarding his territory.
He can have her!
