Steph threw her head back and laughed out. “Damn, girl. I love anyone who can lay it out there like that.”
I shrugged. “Well, no point in denying what Drew has already sent out into the ether, right?”
Steph watched me for a minute, which did make me wonder if she was waiting for a confession to pour fourth. But what would I be confessing? I mean, I didn’t know exactly how much the picture showed, but I felt about as in the dark as you could get. I had no idea what Jake thought about what was going on. Hell, I didn’t know what to think myself. As a result, I waited.
After a long bit of eye contact, Steph’s face softened. “Tell me about Addie.”
Holy detour, I was taken aback. Talk about my kid? Done. “What would you like to know? I can brag about Addie for hours.” I pulled my cell out of my bag behind the counter. “Or I can show you ten million pictures, give or take a few hundred.”
Steph nodded. “I hear you. What I really want to know more about is what power this little girl has that she got my brothers to willingly paint their nails pink.”
We stared at each other for a beat, then hooted with laughter. The more I laughed, the harder it was to stop. Tears streamed from my eyes as I bent over to catch my breath.
“Yeah, I gave them a load of grief when I saw those beautiful nails last night. Did you catch the sparkles in the polish?” I wiped my eyes. “But seriously, what would you like to know?” I slid my phone over to Steph, opened to an album of pictures of Addie.
Steph flipped through them, pausing every so often. Looking from the pictures to me, she paused like she was considering her words carefully. “Well, Ivy, I can’t help but notice there are a ton of pictures of Miss Addie, who is adorable, FYI, and a few of the two of you…”
Steph looked over to me with a tilt of the head, waiting. I met her stare. “And you’re wondering where her dad is?”
“Or her grandparents,” she replied. “I mean, you know I have two girls and Theo. No fucking way could I do this juggling act known as motherhood otherwise.” She examined me carefully, and I noticed the way she studied me. I had to wonder what she was thinking. “I just wonder what your support system is like. I swear I’m not trying to be a nosy bitch.”
I gave her a look with just a hint of skepticism.
She raised up her hands as she laughed. “Okay, okay, notonlya nosy bitch, but I am wondering if you’re some kind of superwoman because no fucking way could I do this gig alone. As a matter of fact, this speaks to an argument the boys and I had last night…” Steph’s voice trailed off as she seemed a bit lost in thought.
One, I loved that she called Jake and Drew the boys. I could just see her as a nine-year-old, ordering those two around. Did they follow their older sister’s directions, or were they annoying little brothers? Considering the two of them, I was going to go with a bit of both. At any rate, I was curious. “Steph, I absolutely want to know what you all argued about. Being an only sibling, I’m going to be completely frank and say I’m a bit green with jealousy at the whole sibling dynamic you all have going on.”
She laughed. “Well, I get that. As much as those two drive me nuts, I love them completely. And I’m glad to share our conversation as long as you know we’re heading back to the topic you so artfully dodged. But before I get into it, do you possibly have any water here I could snag?”
“Holy crap, I’m a horrible host. My nana would be mortified if she knew I hadn’t offered you anything—”
“Well, to be fair,” Steph said, reaching across and squeezing my hand, “we’re not in your home. I don’t think beverages are expected at a bookstore, and I wouldn’t ask if those damn brothers of mine hadn’t worn me out completely.”
I moved out from the counter to the little hall we had on the way to the back of the store. There I had a small counter complete with coffee maker, teakettle, some cups, and a small fridge and bar sink. “I have water, coffee, and tea. Pick your poison.”
Steph tilted her head, considering. “What type of tea?”
I glanced over where we kept the tea bags. “We’re running low, just green tea and my favorite—peach.”
Steph’s smile widened. “I’ll absolutely take some peach, and a shot of honey with it if you have it.”
“You got it, and I’ll join you. Now, argument.” I gestured for her to go on with my hand as I grabbed everything needed for our drinks and got the water boiling.
Steph leaned against the back counter, as she seemed to debate where to begin. “Well, you have to know that Drew, Jake, and my relationship is built on lots of love and calling each other on our bullshit.”
I nodded, flipping the switch on the kettle before moving to the mugs and dropping the tea bags in. “So last night, you called them on their bullshit?” I guessed as I finished up our drinks and we moved back to the front of the store. Steph reclaimed her spot on the stool as I slid her mug toward her.
“Thanks,” she said, taking her mug. Glancing at the cup with the woman meditating and the phraselet that shit go, she laughed out loud and took a sip. “Um, excellent. Okay, where was I?”
“Calling them on their bullshit,” I supplied.
“Yes, so when I got here last night and explained that Theo had volunteered to stay with girls at home, Drew made a comment about Theo being a saint and Jake said something about babysitting.”
I raised a brow at her. “Because Theo stayed at home with his own kids?”
“Apparently.”
I shook my head. “That’s some borderline misogynistic bullshit, babe.”
