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“No. I can’t. This is how I make money, Tad. It’s myjob. I take it Naomi can’t get them?”
“No, she’s working late.”
“All right, well, I’ll call Mikey. I’m sure he or Trish can grab them. I’m going to their house for dinner anyway, so you can pick them up there.”
“Fine. Let me know for sure and—”
“Before you go, I have something I need to talk to you about.”
“What?” he sighs.
“I’m seeing someone. It’s serious. And I’d like for the boys to meet him.”
“Okay, do I need to meet him first?”
“Not exactly. You already know him. As do they.”
“What? Who—” I hear a huff of air, then a sarcastic laugh. “Oh, fuck me, it’s Luke, isn’t it?”
Shit. Was it that obvious when I was married to someone else?
“Yes. It is.”
“I can’t believe you’re actually with him. I could tell you had some stupid crush when we first moved back. But, really? The tatted, grunting, never-says-a-word loser—”
“Don’t you fucking dare. Don’t you dare talk about him like that. And I better not hear that you’ve even mentioned his name around the boys. I’m serious. I havealwaysbeen respectful of you and Naomi and your relationship. You do not get to choose who I’m with. You don’t get a say in my life anymore. This is a courtesy, my telling you before I tell them, don’t make me regret it.”
“Whatever. I can’t believe you think he could make you happy.”
“Not could—does. In every single way.” I shake my head. I’d love to launch into a full-blown point-by-point discussion of why Luke is the perfect man for me, but Tad doesn’t need that. He’s just trying to get under my skin. And I’m done with that. “Don’t mention it to the boys. We’ll tell them on Friday. And don’t talk shit—”
“I won’t mention him. Calm down.”
Telling a pissed off woman to calm down is how guys get their dicks chopped off in their sleep.
“Great. I’ll text you after I talk to Mikey.”
“Yeah, bye.”
I don’t say anything, I just hang up. This is one of those moments when I miss the days of corded phones—or, at the very least, receivers—so I could slam that shit down as I hang up.
I inhale sharply, then force myself to take a few calming breaths before I call Mikey.
It doesn’t help.
“Hey, Zo, what’s up?”
“Sitting in editing hell. I have a favor to ask you.”
“Hit me with it.”
“Tad can’t pick up the boys today because he got called into some higher-up thing… I don’t know. Anyway, I have a meeting then, so I can’t, either. Any chance you or Trishy could pick them up? You’re both on the list.”
I make a mental note to add Luke to that list. I made it back when Alex first started school, and Luke and I weren’t as close then.
“Trishy might run a little late, but I definitely can. Need me to drop them off with douchebag Tad?”
I cackle. “I needed that today.”
