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She raised an eyebrow. “You don’t want kids?”
I shrugged. Sometimes I thought about what it would be like to be a dad, but those were fleeting thoughts. I wasn’t cut out for this. I couldn’t give a child the best; I didn’t see the point in trying at all.
“Honestly, I don’t think I’d be any good at it,” I admitted.
Zoe laughed. I raised an eyebrow. “Carter, I’m going to let you in on a secret,” she said. “No one knows what they’re doing when they have a kid. You’re never ready for it. You’re never going to think you’re good enough. And your kid is going to throw you a million curveballs.”
She sighed, looking at Rex again. Her little genius had rainbow ice dripping down his chin and onto his tee shirt.
“But, it’s worth it. It’s the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.”
“He’s a good kid,” I confirmed.
Rex and Elias joined us again and Rex took his mother’s hand.
“We should get going, honey,” Zoe told her son. “It’s getting pretty late.”
“Do we have time to go to the hardware store though?” Rex asked, worried.
“What do you need at the hardware store?” I asked.
“Paint. For my bedroom,” Rex answered proudly. “Mom said I can paint my bedroom in the new condo.”
“Really? That’s cool. What color?”
“Blue. Like my room at Dad’s house.”
“Interesting. You don’t want to change it up?” I wondered.
“Blue is my favorite color,” he argued.
“I know. And blue is pretty awesome. But maybe since you’re starting over in a brand new place, you should try a new color. Give the place a different vibe.”
“When did you become an interior decorator?” Zoe teased.
“You think all I do is fix water heaters?” I taunted her right back. “I can Martha Stewart with the best of them.”
“Want to come with us?” Rex asked.
“I’m sure Carter has places he needs to be on a Friday night,” Zoe said. “He’s a busy man. I’m sure he’s got places to go. Waitresses to see.”
I met her eyes and laughed it off. I’d told Caroline that I had a stomachache and left her and her friends at Rook’s in favor of calling it an early night. I went home alone and fell asleep rewatchingDie Hard, wondering if a certain frustrated nurse liked action movies or rom coms.
It wasn’t like me and I didn’t know what to make of it. I was already pushing my limits with thisfriends that aren’t too friendlything. But, as I told Zoe, I couldn’t say no to kids. And, apparently, I couldn’t say no to her either.
“I’m free,” I told them. “I’ve got all night.”
At Copper Street Hardware,Rex made a beeline for the paint swatches, immediately searching for something green. His first selection was a headache inducing shade of neon lime.
“I love this,” Rex insisted. “It’s so bright.”
Zoe opened her mouth, then closed it, pursing her lips.
“You know, maybe an accent wall is a better idea,” I said, steering him towards more muted shades of forest green.
“What’s that?” he asked.
“It’s when you have three walls painted in a nice neutral color like beige or gray, but on the fourth wall, you choose a bolder color like… maybe this?” I suggested. I held up a swatch of a deeper green. Sage, I think.
