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She waved a dismissive hand, her eyes scanning the horizon. "Oh, you know, just a little chat," she said casually. "Catch up on old times."
I clenched my fists, resisting the urge to lash out. This was not the time for confrontation, not when Hailey's future hung in the balance. "Fine," I said through gritted teeth. "Let's chat."
We stood there in awkward silence for a moment, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Natasha cleared her throat, her expression turning serious. "Look, Jake," she began, her voice softening slightly. "I'll cut to the chase. I'm getting married."
The words hit me like a ton of bricks, the air rushing out of my lungs in a desperate gasp. "Married?" I repeated dumbly, my mind struggling to process the information. "To who?"
Natasha rolled her eyes, as if my ignorance was the most exasperating thing in the world. "Does it matter?" she snapped. "The point is I'm moving to Hawaii. And I want Hailey to come with me."
My heart skipped a beat, panic seizing hold of my chest. "What?" I exclaimed, my voice rising in disbelief. "You can't be serious."
But Natasha's expression remained impassive, her gaze boring into mine with a steely resolve. "I am serious, Jake," she said firmly. "And if you don't cooperate, I'll have no choice but to take legal action."
I felt the blood drain from my face, a cold sweat breaking out across my brow. This was it, the moment I had feared since the day Natasha had walked out on us. Hailey's future, hanging in the balance, and all I could do was stand there, helpless and alone.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come. Whatever happened next, I knew one thing for certain:
I wasn't going down without a fight.
17
MOLLY
Shit.
I hopped on one foot, left eye squeezed shut, cursing myself as much as the mascara wand I had just poked myself in the eye with.
Blinking rapidly, I hoped the water redness wouldn’t linger too long. It was throwing off the night sky eye make-up I had painstakingly applied. Tonight, was the Spring Fling, with the theme Starry Starry Night, I of course had to have makeup and a dress that were a bit extra but perfectly suited for the theme.
Silver glitter flecks caught the light like miniature winking stars now spilling down one newly damp cheek. The shimmering indigos and violets splashed across my eyelids tied together the Milky Way printed dress I wore. When I ordered it, I had been worried that I would look like Ms. Frizzle from the Magic School Bus. But I was worried for nothing. There was something sleek and magical about the dress. It made me smile, like I had wrapped myself in the sweeping night sky itself.
When my eye stopped burning, I gritted my teeth and inspected the ruined one more closely but decided a minimal touchup would suffice. The crease still sparkled, deep marine hues blending up to lighter iridescent galactic swirls. My skin glowed moon-kissed under the lighter foundation I chose for this purpose.
I couldn't help but feel a pang of uncertainty gnawing at the edges of my thoughts. Most new couples didn't live in such forced proximity to one another, and I couldn't shake the feeling that maybe Jake was getting overwhelmed with how things were progressing between us. I mean, we went from casual acquaintances to practically living in each other's pockets in the blink of an eye.
Was I moving too fast? Was I getting too close too quickly? These questions swirled around in my mind like a tempest, threatening to pull me under.
But then, as I glanced at my reflection in the mirror, something shifted inside me. I realized that maybe I was overthinking things, trying to fit our relationship into some preconceived box instead of just letting things unfold naturally.
And what better way to do that than at the Spring Fling? Tonight was about cutting loose, or at least as loose as we could be while working.
With a determined nod, I pushed aside my doubts and worries, replacing them with a sense of excitement and anticipation.
The past few days felt steeped in tense silences and jagged edges in Jake's mood, making navigating this fledgling complex romance trickier. Jake had been quiet, distracted, and a little distant. I assumed his ex-wife surfacing rattled deeper wounds that time's anesthetic touch had barely numbed.
I glanced in the mirror one more time, satisfied, before picking up my purse, and heading out the door. I promised Hailey I would help her get ready, and I was so excited for her. A first dance is so special at her age. It feels like such a big deal, full of magic and possibilities. I wanted Hailey to have the best time.
Inside the house, Jake greeted me with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Wow, you look…breath taking.” He tugged on his fitted suit jacket, as if feeling suddenly self-conscious.
“You look handsome,” I said with a wink before pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. “I would kiss you more, but I don’t think this shade of lipstick goes with your complexion.”
He chuckled. “As happy as I am that you’re here, I’m actually relieved too. Hailey’s upstairs and I think she's nervous—I'm feeling a bit out of my depth."
I laughed. "That's what I'm here for."
I took the stairs two at a time, calling Hailey's name as I burst into her room. She looked up from her phone, a nervous smile tugging at her lips.
"It's a big night, isn't it?" I asked.
