"You're not a screw-up," I tell her, honestly. "So you don't know what you want to do with your life, you're allowed that."
"You know."
"No babe, I don't have a choice, there's a difference. And besides, I get the impression Mateo doesn't really know what he's doing right now either. Imagine being his age and moving back into your parents' house because you don't have anyone else to take care of you."
"Harsh."
"You're not the rotten egg, Addie. You're the one carving her own path. You'll figure it out. It just takes longer for some people."
"Mateo being home has been…well, an adjustment. He's been gone most of my life."
"I thought you guys were close?"
"As close as you can be from five thousand miles away, I guess. I'm hungry. Are you hungry?" she asks, sitting up again.
I'm not hungry, but I get the sense Addie is done with this conversation and this is her way out, so I stand and hold my hand out to help her up.
Coop is counting colorful paper money at the island when we walk into the kitchen, and Mateo is grumbling to himself. I would've thought he'd know better than to play Monopoly with my kid.
Addie grabs a bottle of Diet Coke out of the fridge and holds out a Red Bull.
"Mom must have picked these up for you," she says with a shrug.
I take it with a nod and sit at the island across from Mateo. His shy smile says it all. It wasn't Charlie, it was him. Why? Why is he so nice? So handsome? So off limits? He's so not my fucking type, but I'm drawn to him in ways I shouldn't be. My fingers itch for my pencil, to draw him and his stupid, asymmetrical face.
"What um, are you guys doing?" he asks, gesturing to the towel wrapped around my shoulders and clipped in the front with a claw clip.
"Replacing a carburetor," I say at the same time Addie says, "Dying Jade's hair pink."
"Pink?" Coop and I say in unison, sticking our tongues out at each other.
Mateo chuckles.
"Oops," Addie says. "I promise it's a sexy pink and not like indigestion med pink."
She's lucky I love her, because pink?
"Friday night fire?" Coop asks.
"Sure thing, dude," Addie says, tossing the cap to her Diet Coke at him.
"Actually…" Mateo pauses. "I was going to go check out this old school arcade that opened in Granger. I was hoping I could take the punk with me?"
He winces. "Sorry, the kid."
"No," I say without hesitation. Fucking no. No way is he taking my kid two towns over. Absolutely not.
"Please, Mom?" Coop asks, jumping off the stool. "Please?"
"I promise to have him home before he turns into a pumpkin," Mateo says, sticking his lower lip out.
Addie is quiet next to me. I hate seeing her like this. Maybe getting the boys out of the house and having some real girl time would be good for her.
"Fine, you can go," I say. "But you better kick Mateo's ass in every game." The boys high-five, and I turn to Addie. "Girl dinner and a shit talking fire?"
She smiles, and I know I've made the right choice.
I'll get her back, a little at a time.
