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“I brought empanadas,” I declare.
Because that was going to be my excuse for coming over. When he saw me lurking around the house. I wasn’t planning on doing his dishes though. I just thought since he didn’t like messes, I’d help him out.
“Again,” he goes then, his voice all tight, “did I forget it’s Monday?”
I take a step forward. “No. It’s just —”
“So then did you forget?”
God, he hits his Rs really hard when he’s angry, and it’s making me even stupider. As evidenced by my next set of words: “No, I know it’s Friday and it’s my day off.”
“Exactly.”
I lick my lips, which makes him curl his fingers into a fist.
And I know that because it’s the hand with the keys and they jiggle from the violence he does it with.
“So I-I made empanadas,” I explain despite my heartbeats going crazy. “Because I usually only get time to do that on Sundays. But s-since I had time today, I thought I’d make some and bring them over.”
Before he can say something else that could mess with my senses, I go on, “Because they won’t keep, see. And so it was important and I couldn’t wait for Monday. So that’s why I came over. To drop these off for you.” Then I add, “Also for Sophie. Who I know is with Camille, but she can have them when she gets back so… yeah.”
Okay, that should cover everything.
And I think it’s genius. The excuse I came up with when I decided to come over tonight.
He can’t find fault in that.
“And so you let yourself in,” he clips, without moving his eyes away from me.
Which, even though there are other pressing matters to think about, I realize is the longest he’s ever looked at me. I think before this the record was four seconds, and it had happened the first time he’d come home early from practice. I was up in Sophie’s room, telling her a story while braiding her hair. Well, mostly I was doing voices from the story about this really cute bear who goes on cool adventures with his friends, a lion and a monkey and a little bunny, and making her giggle.
And I remember Sophie abruptly jumping out of the bed, going, “Daddy, you’re home.”
Which made me drop the comb in my hand because my fingers had started shaking, and when I straightened up after picking it up from the floor, our eyes clashed.
And we stared at each other for a total of four seconds.
After which he took his eyes away, smiled down at Sophie, kissed her forehead and said, “Let Daddy go wash up and then I’ll tuck you in, okay?” While Sophie was vigorously nodding her head, he focused on me. “I’ve got it from here. Thanks.”
And that was that.
Anyway, it’s definitely been more than four seconds now and so this has to be the longest.
“I…”
“Because you have the key.”
I swallow. “Uh, yes and —”
“So you didn’t think you had to knock.”
Crap.
So apparently I didnotthink of everything and hecouldfind fault with my logic.
God.
How could I be so stupid?
