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“Jake, bend your knees a little more, this time! Olivia, go spit that gum out! Where’d you get that, anyway? Did you have that the whole time?”
This has been a day and a half with the kids being a little rowdier than usual, probably because it’s Friday. But I think it’s been extra long with all I’ve had on my mind. I was thinking about enough as it was, and now with Kasey telling me she’ll be alone all weekend… I don’t know what the hell it is about that concept that’s got me unable to stop thinking about it.
Blessedly, the caged clock on the side of the wall strikes four, and I see the first flood of parents coming through the door. Good. Now I can go home and stew in peace without having to put on a polite face for anyone. Oh wait, Melanie’s here; I can go back to being an ass right now.
“Aunt Melanie!” Luna lets her ball bounce away as she rushes towards Mel who bends down to greet her with open arms.
“Hi, Monkey!” she exclaims, squeezing Luna tight and rocking her back and forth a couple of times. “You ready for a fun weekend?”
“Yes!” Let me get my suitcase!” Luna skips off as Mel straightens up and pretends to count heads around the gym.
“Wow,” she exclaims cynically. “All six are still alive. You didn’t go savage on any of them, good job.”
I respond with an eyeroll and cross my arms.
“What are you still doing here?” she asks in a quieter, more serious tone.
“That bother you? Sorry. I’ll be on the next flight out,” I goad.
“Don’t you dare!” she warns, as Luna comes trotting back up with her suitcase in tow.
“Reeaady!” she sings, and it makes the corner of my mouth tug.
Melanie recoils like she just saw a demon.
“What?” I grouch at her.
“I think there might be a human under there. I’m scared.”
“Get lost,” I throw back at her, watching my language in front of Luna.
Melanie starts to comply, turning from me with narrowed eyes when we’re both taken by surprise as Luna lets go of her suitcase and stands square in front of me with her arms raised. While I hesitate for a split second I squat down and open my arms.
“Bye, Ben,” she says, squeezing her little arms around my neck, and I feel something zing inside my heart as I give her a hug back and try to avert my eyes from Melanie’s knowing gaze.
Luna releases me as though that hug wasn’t a life-changing thing for me, grabs ahold of her suitcase handle and makes a beeline for the door, seemingly unconcerned if Melanie is joining her or not.
“Yippeeeeeee!” she happily shrieks all the way to the door, as Mel gives me one last pointed look.
“You belong here,” are her parting words as she slides her sunglasses on and turns to walk toward the door.
I don’t respond, and instead I start gathering up my belongings and taking a slug off my water bottle.
As I head toward my rental car, I make a firm note to return it tomorrow and go looking for a new car, something I dread. I’ll have to not only interact with humans, but annoying pushy salesmen… which are in a league of their own. I’ll need a flask of whiskey to get me though the day… or something else.
As I slip into the driver’s seat, I get an idea.
Kasey
I’ll miss my girl this weekend, but when you parent on your own, breaks are necessary. It’s good to reset and take some time to let your guard down, and I’ve been needing some time to let my bravenothing’s wrong, all good heremask fall so I can sort through some things. Maybe I’ll even go out with Lizzie and blow off some steam. Who knows?
For today, I stuck around the salon for a couple extra hours to pick up some walk-ins since I didn’t have to go get Luna. I enjoy the extra money and the busy work, and the idle chatting with Lizzie and Katy between clients.
I’m just getting ready to split when the bells chime on the front door, and I turn to see none other than Ben, falteringly coming through.
“Hi,” I breathe out in surprise.
“Hi,” he stops and puts his hands in his pockets. “We’re you getting ready to leave?” he nods his head at my bag that I’m pulling up on my shoulder.
