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“For tonight. Then I’m heading back to San Antonio. I have a client who needs some hands-on work. But I can put him off for a week since he’s family.”
“Who?”
“Ed. We’re going to do some videos for the holidays. Gotta get those things done early”
Our brother’s best friend and business partner is the main baker of the trio who owns Camos and Cupcakes. He’s kind of shy, but Avery has been working with him teaching him how to pump up their social media.
“No. The kids have camp, I have work, this will be easy to deal with.”
She gives me a look like she doesn’t believe me, but she must sense that I need time to think.
“Okay. Let’s go to the kitchen so your girl can show you how to make sopapillas.”
She waits for me to stand, then loops her arm with mine. “You’re doing this because you want to eat them.”
“Of course. That’s the only reason I hauled my lazy ass to the grocery store before returning.”
I stop before she opens the door. “Hey, you know you help me a lot.”
She smiles. “I do, but it’s nice to hear.”
ChapterTwenty-Two
LIV
Imake it through the week, but it’s tough. I know that Mason and Sammy spent some time together on Wednesday. Mason texted me to let me know that both my dog and my son had made their way over to his house. Callie, though, she was a different story. I did my best not to look out my kitchen window and to try to peek into his house. Thankfully, Mason went out of his way to give me the time he said he would. Jerk.
Yes, I know being mad at him makes no real sense. I mean partially because he made me look at my relationship with Sam differently.
So, here I am on Saturday morning, feeling sorry for myself, lying in bed. It’s after nine, and I can hear the kids in the kitchen getting cereal for breakfast. Usually, I cook a big breakfast on Saturday, but they apparently got the memo that their mother is having a midlife crisis.
Midlife.
Why couldn’t I be five years younger, or Mason be five years older?
It’s irrational. I know that. I mean, Iamthe rational one. I never lose it or do insane things like my sisters. I’m not loud or colorful. I take care of what needs to be done. I never step out of line.
Until Vegas.
And once I realized he was my next-door neighbor, all bets were evidently off. In less than three weeks, he was back in my bed.
I hear knocking, and I close my eyes. Houdini starts barking, and I know I should get up, but I don’t want to be an adult today. Maybe if I stay here, I can pretend I’m sixteen. Sixteen-year-old me could eat fries while slurping down a milkshake every day without a care in the world. I really want to be sixteen.
When I hear lots of voices and my kids talking, I frown. Then I recognize Fritz’s booming voice.
“Where is your mother? Liv?” he yells.
Dammit. I don’t feel like being nice. It isn’t a new feeling, but I’m ready to tell everyone to fuck right off for the first time in years. I pull my comforter over my head. Maybe if I pretend not to be here, they will go away.
“Are you alone in there, Liv?” Cora asks, knocking on the door, then opening it.
“Go away.”
“What’s going on, Cora?” Avery asks.
“She told me to go away.”
“Fuck that,” Avery says before I hear the door hit the wall. Yep, she just pushed the door wide open and walked right in.
