Part 14 (1/2)

”Are you sure? We can stop by and get you.”

”I'm positive. I can't tonight. You go have fun.”

”C'mona We played a great game and want to celebrate. You haven't met the guys yet, it'll be fun.”

”Judd, can you listen to me please? I can't go tonight.”

I think my tone must have finally gotten through his good-game afterglow, because he asked, ”What's wrong?”

”Nothing,” I said sharply. ”Nothing you have to worry about. Just go out and have fun with the guys.”

”Do you want me to come over there instead?”

”No. I don't. I just want to be left alone tonight. I'll talk to you in the morning.”

G.o.d, I sounded like a real b.i.t.c.h. I could feel it and I could hear it, but I couldn't seem to do anything about it.

”Are you sure?”

”Yes, I'm sure. Karrie's throwing a fit and I'm PMSing. It's not all picnics and rainbows over here, Judd. You go out. I'm staying here.”

Silence.

I knew that I'd gone too far, but it was too late to take back the words.

”Look, Judd, I'm sorry, okay? I'm just having a bad night; it's not your problem. I'll talk to you tomorrow,” I tried to lighten my tone. ”Okay? Have fun.”

”Okay, Sam,” Judd said, his voice unsure. ”Try to feel better.”

I hung up the phone, worried that I'd shove my foot further in my mouth if I continued to talk to him.

”s.h.i.+t!” I yelled into the night air, rubbing my hands over my face. When I pulled them a way, I noticed they were damp. I hadn't even realized I'd been crying.

”Pull it together, Sam,” I said to myself.

I breathed in deeply one last time before I turned to go back inside the house, rubbing my sore b.o.o.b as I walked.

Judd was probably glad that he'd seen how crazy I could be before he got too invested in our relations.h.i.+p. I was sure he was at the bar and drinking with his friends, grateful that he'd dodged a bullet.

I cleaned up the mess we'd made for dinner earlier and focused on counting in my head.

Was she ever going to fall asleep from exhaustion? I was sure ready to.

A knock at the door caused Karrie to pause her screaming for a moment, but when she saw me walk into the room she started right up again.

I hoped whoever it was brought earplugs.

I opened the door and was truly shocked to see Judd standing there. His dark hair was still damp from the shower, and he had on a dark T-s.h.i.+rt with work jeans.

”What are you doing here?” I asked. ”I said I couldn't go out.”

He nodded, his green eyes looking at me intently. ”I had a buddy drop me off.”

Karrie's screams turned to whimpers at the sound of his voice. He looked past me before he walked in, leaving me standing there still looking outside.

He walked over to Karrie and picked her up, murmuring something in her ear and stroking her back as he carried her back toward her room.

She stopped crying and sighed loudly.

Really?

I didn't know whether to kiss him or throw a shoe at him. Instead, I headed back into the kitchen and opened a bottle of wine. I left it on the table and walked around, straightening up. I heard water running in the bathroom and a.s.sumed that he was was.h.i.+ng the caked-on snotty mess off of her face.

Karrie didn't make a peep. The little traitor.

I heard them going into her bedroom as I picked up her toys and put them in the bin. I looked at the clock on the DVD player and was surprised to see that it was already after nine o'clock.

I knew Judd had a night game that evening, one that I'd been hoping to go to, but things just hadn't worked out. Sometimes I didn't get to do the things I wanted to do.

Who was I kidding? Most of the time I didn't get to do what I wanted to do.

I went back and poured myself a gla.s.s of wine, taking an aspirin and was.h.i.+ng it down. I looked out my kitchen window and listened to Judd's low voice rumbling in the other room.

It began to calm my nerves.

Well that, coupled with the wine, began to calm my nerves.

I took my wine and picked up the movie I'd rented from a machine at the grocery store earlier and put it in. I hoped Judd was in the mood for a love story.

The previews had just finished when Judd came out of Karrie's room, shutting the door behind him. He walked over and sat down on the couch next to me. He took the wine gla.s.s out of my hand and set it on the end table next to the couch, then eased me down so I was lying with my head in his lap.

When he leaned back and settled in, he started to run his fingers through my hair, and I brought my hand up to discreetly brush away the tears that were forming in my eyes.

Sam was still sleeping soundly on the couch when I heard Karrie stirring in her bedroom. I gently eased my arm out from under Sam's head and rolled off the couch.

I looked down to make sure I hadn't woken Sam, then went back to Karrie's room and slowly opened the door.

Karrie was sitting up on the bed, looking dazed and sleepy, but when she saw me peeking through the doorway her face lit up.

”Dudd!” she yelled happily.

I put a finger to my lips and said, ”Shhh. We don't want to wake up your mommy.”

Karrie grinned.

”Do you want to help me make breakfast?” I asked, walking up to her with my arms outstretched.

Karrie nodded and put her arms up to meet mine.

I started to walk out and I made an exaggerated movement to look around the corner to make sure Sam was still asleep on the couch, which only caused Karrie to giggle more.