Page 5 of Blurry Little Lines
“Probably because you’ve been balls deep in Lauren every moment she isn’t saving lives in the emergency room.” His girlfriend is a trauma nurse practitioner. These lovebirds put themselves through hell before realizing they were what each other needed.
“I can’t help it.” Adam’s brown eyes actually light up. “I love her, and I’m addicted to her.”
“Thanks for penciling me into your busy schedule,” I joke as we make our way to the leather sectional couch and large flatscreen.
“Hey, I’m still adjusting to balancing work, friends, and devouring Lauren’s beautiful soul, okay?” He grabs the beer out of my hand, and we tune into the fight.
“I get it.” As the chief financial officer of his family’s luxury hotel, he’s trying to find more meaning to life or some shit.
“Lauren is on a night shift, so she can’t get annoyed with how loud we get after we drink this entire case of beer.” His broad shoulders shake with a laugh.
“Have you seen Kelsie today?” I ask since today is a rare day where I haven’t prioritized checking up on her.
“I saw her coming home with the kids after Mallory’s swim practice.” Since they share a floor, it’s always been convenient to visit them at the same time.
“I feel like we should have helped tonight. You know how James gets when it’s bedtime.” Her three-year-old son miraculously recharges his batteries with thementionof bedtime.
“You help out more than you need to. You’re making me look like a bad brother.” His face twists as if he’s debating about saying more. “She also needs time to figure out this new transition without Benson in their life.”
“You know I’m protective of her. I think the more help she has, the smoother the transition will be for her, Mallory, and James.” My stomach clenches with anger, knowing Kelsie’s husband gave up on his family after freeloading for years. Benson used her famous name to start his own company and took off when his company did. “I also know how my mother acted when her and my father split.”
“Max, Kelsie isnothinglike your mother. You know that.” I do, but part of me doesn’t want her to resent her children because she longs for the alone time she rarely gets besides being at work.
“We are lucky to have you as a friend.” Adam turns his attention back to the fight as it begins.
The sound of a long sigh and the click of the door brings me out of my slumber. A bag plopping to the floor and a clearing of a throat signals me to pop one eye open. I squint as the light comes through the large windows. Glancing around, I spot Lauren across the room. By the looks of her tired eyes and blonde hair falling out of a braid, I take it she had a rough night. I go to sit, feeling an ache in my back from passing out on the couch. She notices me then and darts her eyes back and forth between me and the mess of beer bottles and chip bags sprawled over the coffee table. I look like a dumbass as I stand up and try to gather the garbage all at once, as if I wasn’t caught leaving a mess. She only just moved in, but I still feel the need to respect her living space, even if Adam doesn’t care to clean before bed.
“Busy night, Shirley Temple?” I first coined the nickname when she would come to the bar and order one with a side dish of cherries.
“Every full moon brings out the most eventful creatures somehow.” She shakes her head, eyeing my arms full of garbage. “Is Adam up?”
“I don’t know. He does need to head into work soon.”
“Cool, I’ll have enough time for a quick shower with him before he leaves.” This woman is shamelessly insatiable over him even after a twelve-hour night shift.
“That’s my cue to leave.” I dispose of the trash and head out the door. I’m reaching out to press the elevator button when I hear havoc from the door across the hall.
“Mallory, shoes on. Now!” By the tone in Kelsie’s voice, I know she has already asked her seven-year-old daughter four times nicely.
My knuckles tap against the polished door, and Kelsie opens it a moment later, balancing her son on her hip as she zips Mallory’s backpack. James shoots me a smile, already dressed. With his shirt on the right way, might I add, so that was a big win for Kelsie this morning. Kelsie, on the other hand, wears a stressed-out smile, with her dark brown hair half out of her messy bun. Her work skirt is half zipped up her hip, and I try to avoid staring at the black band of her lacy underwear that has yet to be zipped over. She’s still in a sleep tank top and rotating her hand in a motion to get Mallory to hurry up.
“I take it you’re going into the office today?”
“Yeah, I’ll eventually make it there.” Her chocolate eyes close as she takes a deep breath. “James woke up every other hour for some reason last night.”
Mallory jumps up from the floor with one shoe on and bolts to the kitchen. “I forgot to choose a snack!”
“Max!” James smiles and reaches his arms out to me. He is three, but I swear his feet hardly hit the ground. I extend my arms to take him from Kelsie. He smiles and wraps his arms around my neck, snuggling right up to me.
“Hey, little koala.” I rub his back as Mallory returns to put on her other shoe. “Are the kids ready to go?”
“Yeah, and my mother is grabbing James after lunch for me.”
“Great. I’ll drop them off on the way to the gym.” I pick up James’s backpack and nod toward Mallory. “Let’s go, kiddos.”
“Max, you took them twice last week.” She sighs, knowing there’s no point in arguing, but still gives it an attempt. “I’ll just show up late to work. Again.” She has never been one to ask for help with anything. Even if she desperately needs it.
“Go get ready for work. You know I don’t mind taking them. Their schools are on my way.”