Page 35 of The Girlfriend Game
“I’ll be in Atlanta the next two weeks volunteering with the youth basketball program my buddy, Rashad, runs every year. During my absence, you’ll write your summary report that Marek requested and he’ll either agree to allow me back on the team or require me to attend additional therapy. But either way, I won’t be returning to your office when I get back.”
My heart plummets as my lips part slightly on a gasp. “Oh no, Zeke. Please don’t stop your therapy because of me and this situation between us. That’s exactly the type of conflict I wanted to avoid.”
He smiles, placing his hands on top of my shoulders, shaking his head innocently. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll continue therapy, regardless of the outcome of Marek’s terms. But I’m finding another doctor to replace you. Because, as of this moment, you’re fired, Dr. Rush.”
Fired.
I think that’s the first time I’ve ever been relieved and happy to have those words directed at me. Even though they don’t make any difference.
I’d calledKerry the moment I got in the back seat of the Uber car and told her I was coming over. This entire situation was too much of a burden for me to work through on my own. I had to let it out and Kerry was my lifelong sounding board.
“Where are my angels?” I shout through the large open foyer of Kerry and Brendan’s home as I enter through the front door.
The noise of kids’ feet clomping down the hall sounds like a herd of elephants on the loose and Celeste and Conrad round the corner, each vying to be first, and come into view.
I bend down and throw my arms wide, capturing both kids in a bear hug as they barrel into my chest, nearly knocking me over. Their laughter and giggles are a warm welcome and an elixir to my aching heart.
I plant kisses on the tops of their heads as they both begin talking at once.
“We’re making cookies!” Celeste rejoices excitedly.
“Will you sign my cast?” Conrad asks, presenting me with the blue taped arm cast that has already been colored on by his baby sister, based on the flowers and rainbow drawn on in colorful marker.
I give Celeste a meaningful look and follow it up with, “Yum. Where’s my taste?” And then I turn to Conrad and smile broadly at his eager hopefulness.
Not so dissimilar to Zeke’s hopefulness that I squashed when I left today.
“Of course, I will. Let’s go into the kitchen so we can do both. Lead the way.”
I watch as they scamper off down the hallway, my heart going pitter-patter with the love I feel inside for these kids. They may not be my own children, but they’ve owned me since the day they were born. It makes me yearn for the day when I have a child of my own.
An overwhelming sadness creeps in out of nowhere, hitting me square in the chest and knocking the wind out of me. After today’s adventure, I’m ready to give up on the dating and marriage route. Maybe trying to fit my life into the traditional box isn’t in the cards for me. I’m more convinced than ever that I should start the IVF treatment.
I get to my feet and head down the hallway into their brightly lit chef’s kitchen, where I find Kerry talking into an earbud while scooping off cookies from the tray. With a lift of her eyebrow, she waves a spatula in the air and smiles, continuing on with her multi-tasking.
“No, I told Sandra that we were limiting the guest list to fifty. The event space isn’t big enough to accommodate any more than that.”
She mouths, “It’s Karen” before scowling.
That explains it. Karen and Sandra are our mother’s sisters who have both been adamant about being involved in the planning of the anniversary party. Both women are extremely vocal about their opinions and still treat us like we’re children.
“Mmm-hmm. Yes, we are getting a DJ. And catered food, too.” She pauses and her reply comes out as snippy. “No, we aren’t having an open bar. If you and Sandra want one, you’ll have to pay for it. Listen, I’ve got to go. I have cookies baking. I’ll call you next week.”
She shakes her head and gives me a look that says, “I most definitely will not call her back next week.”
I take a seat at the kitchen island and reach over to grab a fresh-out-of-the-oven peanut butter chocolate chip cookie as she playfully smacks my hand away. Taking a big bite, I moan at the deliciousness.
When she finally ends the call, Kerry shoves her phone in her shorts pocked and yanks at her hair with a quiet scream.
“Oh, my God, they are driving me batshit crazy! How did I get stuck with all the planning?”
I laugh, sneaking another cookie after devouring the first one.
“I don’t know? Maybe because you live for this shit?”
“Pfft,” she snorts, grabbing a cookie sheet already lined with dough and places them in the oven. She sets a timer, washes her hands at the sink, and plops down on the stool next to me with an eager expression. “So? How’d it go? Are you in love and ready to have his babies?”
My head falls forward, plunking against the cold granite of the counter and I cover my head with my hands. A noise that sounds like a dying whale pulls from my throat.
“My Mountain Man turned out to be Zeke Forester.”
She’s quiet for a moment and I turn my neck, peeking through the slots of my fingers still covering my eyes to watch her expression as she puts two and two together.
“Wait, the basketball player on the Pilots’? That Zeke Forester? Holy dating app jackpot, he’s ridiculously hot!” She claps her hands in excited glee and then leans over and whispers conspiratorially. “I bet he has some great stamina. I also heard tall men have…”
I whip my arm out and firmly slap a hand over her mouth to stop her from going any further. Her giggle is more like a cackle over her own dirty comment. When I release my hand, I give her an added flick of her chin with my finger.
“I won’t ever find out,” I mutter dejectedly. “Because he’s my client.”
I guess I finally found a way to shut my sister up.
