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“Okay!” She promptly said her goodbyes and hung up, even before I could say mine back. She didn’t want to risk getting caught divulging Liv’s secrets to me.
Now it’s Saturday and my spirits are higher than they’ve been in what seems like thelongesttime.
Liv isn’t ignoring me anymore.
According to Rae, she cares about me greatly and wants me to come back as much as I want to.
And tonight is the night I get to escort that little blonde sweetheart to a dance in place of her dad, becauseI’mthe most special guy she knows.
I even bought a new outfit. The flyer mentioned a nice shirt, either khakis or slacks, and dress shoes, and I had a couple things in my closet I could probably get away with, but I want to look my best. The black button-down, dark gray pants, and shiny black shoes are all laid out at home, ready for when I get off work.
Speaking of work: I get to leave early today so I can get ready and pick Rae up around 5:15, just before the dance starts. I’ve currently got only two hours left of my shift, so I’m feeling good.
So is Bill, who’s been here since 11. He’s taking Abby to the dance and, like me, he’s not allowed to learn anything about his daughter date’s appearance until it’s time to go. Apparently, that means he’s not allowed at his own house right now.
My morning bartender called in today, so I’ve had to cover that, but it’s been fun. I’m in too nice a mood to be annoyed about it; in fact, thanks to this nice mood, I’ve actually brought in more tips in these early hours than I have in the last three weeks. I have just extended my genuine gratitude to a couple who tipped me thirty percent of their check, flattered and proud of myself.
Bill walks up, claps me on the shoulder, and says, “I’m glad the sun is peeking out of your ass again, son. You were in a lousy way there for a while.”
I flash him a smile. “You’re telling me.”
“Right?” Now he claps his hands together. “You ready for the shindig with our second-graders?”
“I’m as ready as Pop-Tarts coming out of the toaster!”
He laughs. “Damn! Me, too! Did you finally figure out what color corsage to get for Rae?”
I snort. “Not really. I just picked white because Liv said I could wear a white shirt and match Rae’s dress. Figured it’ll look okay no matter what color she wears.”
“Ah, smart thinking.”
“What color did you end up getting for Abby?”
“The pinkest pink there ever was, my man!”
“Of course!”
“Listen, she’d dye her hair pink if I’d let her.”
The rest of my shift passes with more easy chatter and more happy customers. When Hulk shows up to manage the late shift sooner than usual, I thank him fervently and promise to make it up to him somehow. He jokes that he’ll accept a free burger from the very place Liv and I went to on our night out, and I tell him quite seriously to hit me up when he wants it.
I don’t know if he’ll really take advantage of the offer, but I hope he will. Not being late to this dance is important to me, and he’s not just giving me an hour to get everything done before I pick up Rae—he’s giving me twice that long purely to be nice. Hell of an assistant manager.
Before I know it, it’s 3 PM and I can clock out. I thank Hulk again as I head for the door, and Bill and I say we’ll see each other soon.
I blast my music as I leave the parking lot—“Motion Sickness” because it’s no longer too painful to listen to with Liv talking to me again—and off I go to get started on my evening.
*
Whew, it’s time.
I’ve got my fancy outfit on, Rae’s white carnation corsage in one hand, and a single red carnation for Liv in the other—I couldn’t help myself.
And I’m nervous. Can’t even lie. As much as I adore Rae, I’ve never had a kid solely under my watch before. What if it’s awkward without Liv around? What if Rae doesn’t think I’m fun? What if I do something wrong like accidentally feed her food she’s allergic to?
Oh my fuck,what if I kill Rae with a food allergy?
I’m stressing so much about it that when I get to their apartment, I break the weeks-long silence between me and Liv with a rushed, “Does Rae have food allergies? I’m freaking out that I’m going to send her into anaphylactic shock with a peanut butter cookie or something.”
