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I nod supportively, hoping he knows I’m not trying to make him feel like some kind of absentee father.
I know it’s a sacrifice—anything but an easy decision.
“So, you have them today. What are you going to do?”
He smiles again, this time more genuinely. “Breakfast first, and then I thought I’d stop by the library and let Sarah browse for an hour or so while Hayden and I dick around in the sports section. Then Hay has football practice this afternoon, so I’ll get some quality time in with Sar while we sit on the sidelines and watch.” He laughs then, definitely at himself. “Well, I’ll watch. Sarah will spend most of her time giving me shit about any topic she can manage, I’m sure.”
I laugh then. “Sounds fun.”
I’m being a little bit sarcastic since, in my experience, getting ridden hard by anyone isn’t always the best time, but he doesn’t take it that way. In fact, he looks like it’s going to be the time of his life.
“It will be. I marvel every time I get to have a one-on-one conversation with Sarah over how smart she is. She could out-argue almost anyone on any given day, I guarantee it.”
His pride is so palpable, I can practically taste it as we pull to a stop on the street across from the spot where I left my car last night.
It feels weirdly sour to be saying goodbye already, but I push through the feelings and smile when he reaches out and cups the side of my face.
“Dr. Lauren,” he says simply, taking me barreling back into our first introduction to each other, several months ago.
I can still see him in my head now, unsure and babbly while I held my fingers against his balls under a paper gown.
My, how the two of us have grown.
“Mr. Alexander,” I respond sweetly, and he groans, leans forward, and seals his lips to mine.
He tastes like toothpaste and memories, and breaking off the connection is legitimately one of the hardest things I’ve done since my residency.
“Bye, babe,” he says simply, sweeping his hand from the side of my face, under my chin, and then tapping me on the lips.
I smile and turn to the door without looking back.
If I don’t go, I won’t. And Lord help me, I will not be the woman he has to kick out of his Suburban with actual force.
There’s a light drizzle—a rare occurrence here in SoCal—so I jog away, across the expanse of the road to my car as quickly as I can.
I climb into my car and shut the door behind myself while Garrett watches from across the street. He’s double-parked, and cars are piling up behind him, but he doesn’t move until I give him the thumbs-up and a wave.
Finally convinced I’m all set, he turns off his flashers and drives away while I watch.
Almost immediately, I feel strangely lonely.
For a woman who’s spent the better part of her life alone without complaint, it’s a really strange way to feel.
Instead of cranking the engine, I pick up my phone and scroll through it mindlessly, looking for something to fill the newfound void.
It doesn’t take long before I find myself in the rolling group message with my sisters, typing out a message.
Me: I need sister time.
Shell: What is sister time, exactly?
Me: Shut up. It hasn’t been that long.
Cara: It’s been an ICE AGE.
Me: That’s not my fault!
Shell: Whatever. I’m working.
Me: See? Not my fault? And what? You’re working ALL day?
Shell: I get off in an hour, but I’m dead on my feet. If you want time with this sister, you’re going to have to come to me. Diner, one hour. We can sit in a booth for thirty minutes before I have to get home to the kids.
Me: Phil can handle the kids for more than half an hour.
Shell: Do you want to meet or not?
I don’t even get a chance to answer her question before Cara chimes in.
Cara: I can’t.
Me: CARA, COME ON.
Cara: Some of us have families to take care of, Lauren.
Me: OUCH.
Cara: I’m sorry, but I can’t just drop everything last minute.
Yeah. That’s it. My sisters are meeting me and giving me fucking sister time, and I don’t care what I have to do to make it happen. Pretty sure this selfish thought process solidifies my youngest child status, but whatever.
Me: CARA VIRGINIA. I had sex last night, I now own a BIG FAT FISH, and I NEED a sister meeting, so I swear on everything holy, if you don’t find a way to get out from under your responsibilities and come meet me, I’m gonna throw a tantrum so spectacular, it will make your kids look like SAINTS.
Cara: Fine. I’ll see you fools at the diner in an hour.
Shell: LOL. Well, okay then. Sister time it is.
