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I have to smile at the eagerness in her voice.
And she’s right. I work too much.
At a job I absolutely hate.
Did I think that out loud?
“I’d love to come over and watch the game. What time?”
“Game starts at six but feel free to show up any time before that. And bring your appetite. Gage thinks I’ve gone overboard on the food.”
“I’ll be there. And I’ll eat my fair share.”
“You better.”
There’s a bubble of excitement in my belly as I start my car.
I would have accepted Dani’s invitation whether Micah was going to be there or not. But all week I’ve struggled with one inescapable fact.
The more I think about Micah, the more I want to see him again.
Chapter7
Micah
My little sister pulls on my arm and then whispers like she’s sharing a state secret. “Total went on the floor.”
“Total did what to the floor?”
“SHHHH.” She points.
A small puddle is visible in the hallway leading to the kitchen.
Total stands at my feet, nubby tail wagging, proud of his accomplishment.
Charlotte heaves a huge nine-year-old sigh. “Mother will be so mad.”
Matilda shouldn’t care. This isn’t even her house. It’s Dani and Gage’s house. And besides, puppies tend to piss all over shit, don’t they? But common sense never interferes with Matilda’s tantrums.
I pat Charlotte’s shoulder. “Let’s go get something to clean this up.”
Total tries to chew on my shoes while I mop up his piss with a wad of paper towels. Matilda is in the middle of giving Dani a lecture on interior decorating when she notices me crawling around on the floor.
“Oh no! The dog didn’t pee on the hardwood, did he? By the way Dani, the new flooring really is gorgeous, although I wish you had listened to my recommendation and selected the style with blonder tones. It would have warmed up the space so much more.”
There is no need to answer her and I don’t. I wipe up the cleaner I sprayed and hope that’s good enough for Dani’s new floor.
I’m washing my hands in the kitchen sink when Dani walks in.
She opens the fridge and withdraws a platter of cut vegetables. “Did you see Cecile today?”
“I stopped there first. Didn’t stay for more than a couple of minutes. She was tired.”
My grandmother has yet to share the news with everyone that she’s terminally ill. Dani will be heartbroken. Maybe that’s why Cecile keeps putting it off.
Dani lowers her voice. “Did you see when the puppy jumped in Alta’s lap? I had to go hunt down a lint brush because she freaked out over the sight of dog hair on her sweater.”
No surprise. Gage’s mother is as sour as they come. “A night of football doesn’t seem like Alta’s social engagement of choice.”
