Page 4 of Not Until Her
I shudder.
“You want me to meet her?” I repeat.
“It was her idea, actually. It’s important to her that you know she’s around for the right reasons.”
I’ll give her points for that.
“And you have no arguments? You’re not worried about me threatening your new girlfriend?” I ask.
“No arguments,” he replies. “She comes in peace.”
“How will this work? I’m stuck third wheeling?”
“You don’t have to be. It could just be the two of you.”
“Yes,” I answer quickly. The less time around him, the better.
We discuss a date, a night next week when he’ll have Dahlia. It’s probably going to be the most awkward dinner of both of our lives, but I’m not really nervous.
Having terrible taste in boyfriends doesn’t make or break a person. ImarriedCaleb, and I’m the coolest person I know. Hopefully there’s a pattern there.
2
“Idon’t know if I’m up for it.”
“Did Reya Barry really just say she isn’t up for something? Where are the flying pigs?”
I snort.
“Dahlia hasn’t been sleeping well the last few nights. I don’t think exhausted is even an adequate word for how I feel.”
I can picture her pouting. A combination of feeling sorry for me, and feeling sorry for herself to miss out on my presence.
“She won’t sleep in her own bed?” Vic asks.
“I knew it would be difficult, but I might give up. I’d rather sacrifice space in my own bed forever,” I admit. That would be better than the heartbreaking sound of my daughter crying when I know I’m what’s causing it.
“Don’t do that. Have you tried laying with her until she falls asleep?”
“Of course I have!” I snap.
“Well, don’t take it out on me,” she admonishes. “I sleep just fine in my own bed.”
“You know how irritable I get without sleep. I’m going on night four.”
I grab a Pepsi out of my fridge, one of my only vices these days. I stopped drinking alcohol over a year ago, after I was responsible for a really uncomfortable situation involving our friend Autumn, her boyfriend, and her ex.
Then I fell asleep while the good stuff was happening. That’s the worst part. What’s the point in drama if I don’t get to watch it unfold?
“But she’ll be at Caleb’s.” I can hear that pout in her voice. “You can drink a couple of your sodas, put on something sexy, come to karaoke night with me, and then sleep! Peacefully! I really,reallydon’t want to go alone, babe.”
And the entire thing is Autumn’s worst nightmare, so Vic can’t exactly ask her. Otherwise that’s exactly what I’d suggest. Why does it have to be karaoke, and not a trip to the library?
“Why do you have to go at all?”
“Because I see this woman at yoga twice a week, and I promised her I’d be there to support her business. I really don’t want to hear the disappointment in her voice while my ass is in the air, Reya.” She pauses for emphasis. “Amandaalwayscatches me off guard when my ass is in the air.”
Okay, I do understand. I don’t want Vic to suffer through that. She has to go.