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“Hey, Ruby.” Nick leans in for a quick kiss on the cheek. I allow it. Summer makes a face. He glances down at her.
“Little sister?”
“Daughter,” I say, and his eyes fly wide open with horror, and he takes a quick step back as if having kids might be contagious until he realizes that the math doesn’t check out. I’d have to have been around eleven when I had her.
“Very funny.” He laughs heartily.
“Hi, Jessica. Hi, Taylor,” I call out with a big sugary smile, because they’re shooting me dirty looks. At least Becca’s not here with them today.
They just stare at me with distaste until Nick looks at them with annoyance. “Girls. You know Ruby, my girlfriend.”
“Hi,” Taylor says, rolling her eyes. Jessica just shrugs.
“You sure have a healthy appetite,” Kirk says to me, looking at the hot dogs and fries.
“Sure do,” I agree. Jerk.
“And yet, she still has a banging figure,” Nick says boastfully, as if it’s something that he’s accomplished. I shoot him a dirty look. Not appropriate in front of the kid, pal.
“Not for long,” Jessica says hopefully. “I bet she’ll be fat soon.”
“Never,” Nick says firmly. He glances at me. “All right, we’re outta here. Going to shoot some pool. Hit you up later?”
Oh, how romantic, my Romeo.
I shrug. “I’m around.”
As they stroll off, Jessica assures Kirk, “I would never eat that much.” Yes, heaven forbid.
“I don’t like your boyfriend,” Summer informs me once they’re out of earshot.
“Then you have excellent taste,” I tell her. She shoots me a look of surprise.
“I thought you’d be mad at me for saying that.”
I shake my head. “Summer, you may say anything you want to me, and I promise you I will not get mad.”
She looks at my blouse. “Okay, green’s not your color.” She shoves a handful of french fries in her mouth.
“You did not!” I burst out laughing and take a hot dog. “You like testing people to see if they’ll stick around, don’t you?”
“Maybe,” she shrugs. “None of Mom’s boyfriends ever do. My dad didn’t. Last time I saw him was the week before my fifth birthday, and he said he was going to bring me a Barbie Dreamhouse, but he never did.”
“What a di—” I catch myself. “Disappointment. I’m sorry that happened.”
She shrugs. “Whatever. I don’t care. And you were going to say dick. I go to public school; I know my swear words. Why are you dating that guy if you know he’s gross?”
I consider this carefully. I’m supposed to be a role model for her, and one thing I hope to communicate to her is that you should never settle when it comes to guys.
“Can you keep a secret?” I ask her.
She makes a zipping motion on her mouth, and then pretends to throw away a key.
I lean in close and lower my voice. “You’re right. He’s not someone I’d ever date. He’s not really my boyfriend. We’re pretending to date, because he needs his coach to think that he’s settling down and taking life seriously. He used to go out and party too much. It’s a favor I’m doing him.”
“Ah,” she nods. “That makes a lot more sense. There was zero chemistry there.”
“Summer!” I almost choke on my hot dog laughing, and she grins at me. An actual smile!
