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“I am. I already admire you and your strength.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For everything. For being so understanding, you’re pretty amazing.”
“I have my moments,” I tease, making her laugh.
I love the way it sounds.
It’d be even better if she was in bed with me the next time it happened.
CHAPTER 6
ALLISON
“Mommy!” Tanzanite greets me with a wide smile. She’s wound up on sugar; I can tell by the way she bounces with every step towards me.
“Hey, Tanny! How was your Valentine’s party?” I give her shoulder an affectionate squeeze as I take her backpack from her, and we start walking to my SUV.
I had Mike put the title in my name this week so he can’t try to take it from me if he gets angry about something in the future. He’s not typically the type to do that sort of thing, but I’ve read too many times that divorce can change someone’s reactions to situations drastically, and I’m not taking any chances. He hasn’t been home much, so it’s made things easier with house and job hunting. I’ve signed up for an online platform that specializes in selling expensive items so I can try to get enough money until I find a job and I get something from Mike to help support Tanzanite and me in our new future. I’ve managed to sell a few Birkin bags already so I’m off to a decent start. It’s scary starting over, but also exciting. I’m only sorry I didn’t leave him sooner. I wanted to punish him but I was also punishing myself by staying and not realizing it sooner.
“It was fun. Josiah brought chocolate cupcakes with chocolate icing and red candies on them. Mrs. Catherine wasn’t happy because she said they were full of red dye number forty.”
I smirk and nod along. Poor Zeus, he probably thought he was doing the kids a favor, not realizing the school’s policy on toxic dyes for class snacks and party donations. “Oh no, so what happened?”
“Well, Mrs. Catherine was going to send them back home with Josiah, but Beatrice Roberts threw a huge fit and said she was going to call her mom. Her mom’s a lawyer, and she told Mrs. Catherine she’d make her mom sue her for emotional distress.”
“Oh my God,” I whisper, thinking of poor Mrs. Catherine. She puts up with way too much shit from these kids.
“I know! So, we picked the candies off, washed our hands, then got to eat them. We ate all fifty-seven cupcakes.”
My mouth falls open just as a deep raspy, “Hey,” startles me, and I stop walking. Turning to him, I say, “Fifty-seven cupcakes? Are you crazy?”
Zeus’ cheeks flush, looking sheepish. “They were minis; I didn’t want anyone to think I wasn’t doing my part by donating.”
Josiah speaks up, “We were supposed to bring celery and bleu cheese. Mrs. Catherine said Dad doesn’t need to donate for the rest of the year.”
“I’m sure,” I respond, as Zeus chuckles, his eyes twinkling.
“Shouldn’t there have been sixty?”
“I ate three on my way to drop them off. They were small so I figured three equaled one regular size.”
I snort, shaking my head at his reasoning. I’m guessing they made it past the front desk ladies because Zeus is hot. I can’t blame them. I wouldn’t be paying attention to the sugary sweets either, not when you have life-sized man candy in front of you.
We follow behind the kids, walking towards our vehicles parked along the side of the road surrounding the school. Zeus lightly bumps his arm into mine. “I was thinking about you.”
I glance around before shooting him a smile. I’m getting divorced, but I still don’t want anything getting back to Mike just yet. I don’t want him to get worked up over Zeus and try to fight me on anything, especially custody, because I definitely don’t have the money to beat him in court. “You were?”
He nods, “Always.”
“I like how you’re never afraid to tell me exactly what’s on your mind. Men I’ve met in the past have never opened their hearts and put it all out there like you do.”
“It’s been a long time since I was with a woman, and you’re different. I want you to know how I feel and what my intentions are with you. I’m too old for games or crossed signals. I want to spend my time with someone I enjoy.”
“And that’s me?”
