Part 24 (2/2)

”Good. I guess I should feel bad that I didn't invite Sarah, but it's my birthday, and I don't want any drama. Austin is going to be enough, thank you very much. Between Royal, my dad, and Glenn, we'll have our hands full.”

She laughed. ”Poor Macy. I'm so glad we didn't have a s.h.i.+tload of men to contend with. Can you image what that poor kid is going to go through sitting at the dinner table with those guys? I would pay good money if I had to. Bless her heart, but you have to admit-it's funny.”

I didn't think it was funny at all. Macy was an emotional freak show. She was irritable and cranky from being cooped up, the stress from school and softball, and then not being able to see Austin. At least she was starting to talk to Royal again, and that was a huge breakthrough.

”Are we still on for lunch and girl's night?”

”Lunch, yes. As far as girl's night, I think I'm going to pa.s.s,” I said.

She rolled her eyes. ”You're going. I'll tell Royal to be at the house to watch Ben, and we'll go have fun and laugh and dance. You need this, Jenna.”

I sighed. ”We'll see.”

She looked at me pointedly and snapped her fingers in my face. ”Yes we will.”

”Royal, do you have a minute?”

I stood against the counter watching him work on the sink for twenty minutes, listening to him b.i.t.c.h about what we put in the garbage disposal and trying to bolster the courage to ask him about Sat.u.r.day night.

”Yeah, what's up?”

”Can you watch Ben Sat.u.r.day night?”

I chewed on the cuticle on my thumb and waited for an answer.

He looked up from underneath the sink and narrowed his eyes. ”Why? I thought Macy's boyfriend was coming this weekend.”

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Of course he forgot my birthday. He always did.

”That's on Sunday.”

He sat back on his rear and rested his elbows on his bent knees.

”Where are you going?”

”Out,” I said quickly.

”Out? What do you mean out?”

I lifted my chin. ”Yes. Out. Tara wants to go dancing, or I don't know-something-so I'm going.”

He dropped his head and chuckled under his breath. ”Well, that has bad idea written all over it.”

That p.i.s.sed me off. ”No one asked you what kind of idea it was. I asked if you had time to take care of Benji while I went out.”

He pushed himself up and glared at me. ”I always have time to be with my son, Jenna.”

I nodded. ”Good. It's all settled. We're going out to eat, too, so I'll need to leave around seven.”

I turned to walk away, but he caught my arm. ”Just be careful. You know how Tara gets.”

I glared. ”What's that mean?”

”It means Tara goes to the bars to get drunk and pick up guys. I don't think that's any place for you.”

I smirked. ”I don't think it's any place for you either, but it's never stopped you from going.”

”You want me just to say it, Jenna? Do you? I love Tara, you know how much, but she's a tramp.”

”Don't you do that,” I snapped. ”Just because she likes to socialize and have fun doesn't mean she's a tramp. She just wants to be happy, and who are you to begrudge her that? At least she's not paying hookers to suck her off like your brother. What's that make him? Hmm?”

”You need to watch your mouth,” he hissed. ”Don't you open your mouth about that in front of Tara, either. You know how hard it is for him, and it'd kill him if she found out.”

I clucked my tongue and shook my head. Stupid men.

”If you think Tara doesn't know all about that, then you're an idiot. She knows.”

He looked like I'd smacked him in the face.

”What? They're not together, and she knows it. They can do whatever they want.”

His eyes turned pitch black. ”We're together, Jenna.”

I gave him a questioning look. ”Huh?”

”We're not separated, Jenna. We're still married.”

I nodded. ”Of course we are. G.o.d, did you seriously think I'd entertain the thought of sleeping with someone else? Ugh. Stop being ridiculous.”

”You first.”

”I have to go to the grocery store and Target before I pick up the kids. Do you need anything?”

He nodded, picking up his wrench. ”Yeah. Soap and deodorant. The stuff at my mom's smells like s.h.i.+t and it's itchy. I like my soap.”

G.o.d. I'd taken away his soap.

The guilt was heavier and heavier every day. The weight of it was killing me.

”Why don't you just,” I stopped myself.

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