She nodded and started heading to her room which was next to mine. But at the last minute she turned and went into my room. I thought of stopping her but figured it might as well happen now. As I walked over I heard her introducing herself to Camilo.
“Hi, I’m Libertad.”
As I stepped into the room I saw Camilo kneeling in front of her with a big smile on his face. He extended his hand to shake her little one.
“Hi, Libertad. I’m Camilo. It’s nice to meet you. I love your outfit.”
She preened and twirled around to give him the full effect. Camilo chuckled and looked at me. I just lifted a shoulder. She was something, I agreed.
“I dressed myself.”
He nodded solemnly. “You did a great job.”
Libe looked like she was about to sit down for a “getting to know you” session with Camilo, but I scooped her up before my night really did go up in flames.
“Hey, señorita,youwere here for a book and then going home to Papa’s house. Say goodbye to Camilo and we’ll go get it, so you can go to bed. It’s a school night.”
She didn’t look happy, but she waved goodbye to Camilo. Before I walked out, I mouthed, “I’ll be right back.” He didn’t look too sure about my request, so I tried to hurry and get Libe sorted out.
By the time Libe and I got her book and went downstairs, Maxwell was by the door and it looked like Camilo was down there, too, putting on his shoes and looking ready to leave.
“Camilo, this is my ex-husband, Maxwell.” I put extra emphasis on theexpart. Maxwell just stood there looking at me placidly like he had no clue why I was so annoyed.
After it seemed like Camilo was too spooked to react, Maxwell extended his hand to him and smiled. “Nice to meet you.”
Camilo thrusted his own hand out and gave him a very short handshake, barely making eye contact.
“Same.” He looked up, where Libe was perched on my hip and smiled. “It was nice to meet you, Libe.” Then he turned and gave me a look I couldn’t read. “Thanks for everything, Tom.”
“I’ll call you.” I didn’t even try to hide the urgency in my voice.
He nodded, but his blank expression gave no indication on whether the call would be welcome.
“Sure.” With that, he muttered a goodbye in Maxwell’s direction and walked out.
I turned to Maxwell, trying my best not to yell in front of Libe. He at least had the decency to look remorseful.
“I’m sorry! I just thought I’d catch you before you left for whatever you were doing. I didn’t know you’d have company. That’s never happened before.” He threw his hands up like it was a real shock to find out I had a life. “I never thought I’d actually find you here…entertaining.” He let out an awkward laugh. “I didn’t think you knew people could do that sort of thing at six p.m. on a Wednesday.” When I didn’t answer he deflated and angled his head toward the door. “Next time I’ll call if we have to come over.”
“Thank you.” I said tersely, then looked at Libe who was sucking her thumb as we talked. “And you better get to bed, young lady.”
“Okay, Daddy.” She gave me a kiss and went to Maxwell’s waiting arms. Soon after they walked out of the house and across the street to the parking garage. As soon as I saw them off, I ran up the stairs to get my phone.
I was going to call Camilo, grovel, and hopefully repair any damage done in the last twenty minutes.
Camilo
“Help me!” I yelled into my phone as I walked into my apartment. I’d been so out of sorts when I left Tom’s house I’d actually sprung for a Lyft instead of taking the subway. The encounter with the adorable kid and the tall, blond ex who looked like a runway model had left me too unsettled to deal with the New York City subway system.
I heard some shuffling on the phone and after a few seconds, Patrice finally spoke. “Okay, but can you tell me what you need help with?”
He sounded short of breath, and I immediately got annoyed. “Are you at Easton’s? Do you even go to work, or is fucking with that guy your full-time job now?”
I heard the kind of exhale that meant Patrice was already on his last nerve with me.Too fucking bad, this was an emergency.
“Camilo, I don’t have to tell you what I was doing, but for your information, I was at the gym. I’ve been going with Ted, Carmen’s husband.”
“Oh.” Carmen was Jude’s best friend and I knew they hung out all the time now. A pang of nostalgia hit me. We would never be together like that again. Now Patrice and Nesto were upstate and it was just Juanpa and me here. Our lives were changing so fast, and now I had to grapple with the fact that Tom came with quite the package.
