AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“And why are you so worried about people hearing us?”
I can’t tell, but she almost looks hurt by the question. “When was the last time we had a chance to really talk, Aria?”
I smile. “Since before your wedding.”
“Yeah. Bean-Go doesn’t really count—we can’t laugh about sex there without getting the stink eye from the barista.”
“Okay, fair. You just had me worried. You’re not usually quite so pushy about getting together.”
She laughs. “I wasn’t pushy.”
But I pull out my phone and read her text aloud, “Get a sitter. You’re coming to Wicked Coast this morning, no refusals accepted.”
“Maybe I was a little pushy.” She shrugs, then comes around to sit on the stool next to me. “I needed some girl time. Sue me.”
“This is great. No lawsuit needed. How are you doing?”
“Be right back.” She zips off to the kitchen and returns with two bowls of heavenly scented clam chowder. “I remembered—"
“Oh my gosh, you’re the best.” I dig into the bowl with gusto, relishing the creamy goodness. “This is the best yet. What did you do differently?”
“Chef’s secret.”
“It’s perfect. Thank you for this.” One of my favorite comfort foods of all time, made by one of my favorite people. This day is off to a better start than I’d expected.
“So, how is Owen doing?”
My heart is still heavy from his fight this week. “He hit a kid.”
“What?” She nearly drops her spoon.
“That little asshole, Storm Reeves—"
“The mayor’s son?” Her eyes bug out of her head.
“He told Owen it must have been his fault that his dad left us.”
“Wow. What a little shit.”
I nod and scoop in more of my soup, trying to keep my appetite. “I realize he doesn’t know any better, but fuck. That shit is not okay.”
She nods silently, and we eat in the quiet for a moment. “Wish I could say I was surprised. He teased Frannie about seeing up her dress. That kid will grow up to be a menace if he’s allowed to.”
“What did she do?”
“She says she did nothing, but Aiden said she spits in his food whenever she gets the chance.”
I giggle. Her step kids are great—I’d had them in my pre-K not too long ago. “Good for her. Honestly, I don’t want Owen handling conflict violently, but maybe this will make Storm less of a jerk going forward.”
“You never know. Did Owen believe him?”
“I don’t think so, but that didn’t really come up. I’ll bring it up and see how he reacts. Thanks—it’s such a ridiculous notion that it didn’t even occur to me to check in with him about it.”
She smiles. “It takes a village and all that. Can’t be easy not having a partner in raising him.”
“I’m lucky that my parents don’t have much of a life outside of work, or I’d be screwed out of free babysitting.”
“Yes, okay. But don’t you think it’d be better to have a real partner in this?”
