Frowning, I say, “Is he still outside?”
“Yup. I can make him wait longer.”
We both giggle. “Tell him to come back in an hour after I get Amari ready.”
An hour later, Paige handed Amari off to Kai while I showered to wash off all the bad that had happened in the past forty-eight hours.
“Have you decided what you want to do?” Paige asks while we both put on our Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse foundation. Times like these remind me of when Paige and I were inseparable. We were always hanging out, getting ready together, and trying to figure out what we should do for the day.
For some reason, I’m drawing a blank on what we should do and what we used to do. My life has been so consumed with Amari and Kai that I can’t even think of anything to do. It wasn’t even that long ago, but the more I think about it, the more it seems like it was ages ago.
“All I can think of is the mall or going to Sonic. But Sonic ismore of a night thing.” I turn to Paige. “I don’t remember what we used to do.”
One side of her lip turns upward as she looks at me, clearly shocked. “You need to get out.”
I giggle.
I’m walkingout of the bathroom, back into the sound of beeping machines. Arcades aren’t my thing, but it’s winter, and there isn’t much to do unless you want to go outside and ski or snowboard. That’s also not my thing.
I find Paige talking to a couple of guys next to a pinball machine. “Oh, hey. This is my friend Blakely. Blakely, this is Kyle and Jared.”
“Hey,” I say awkwardly. What is she doing?
“What are you girls doing tonight?” one guy asks. I think that one is Kyle. He has dark-brown hair that’s shaved on the sides with a little length on the top that is combed over to the side.
“We don’t have any plans. Do we, B?”
I shake my head, trying to understand what she is doing. I hope she’s not trying to hook me up with someone else. It’s way too soon.
“Do you girls want to do something, then?” the other guy asks. He has the same haircut, only longer. Almost like a mohawk, but not so long. His sandy-blond hair matches the light freckles that run across his cheeks.
“What are you guys thinking of doing?” Paige asks.
“We could get some 40s and chill somewhere. Jared’s parents are gone. His houseis free.”
The thought of drinking at a stranger’s house makes my skin crawl. It doesn’t sound appealing. Especially since I’m a mother now, and Kai and I are still together. At least, I think we are. I don’t know how he sees it.
Paige looks over at me and then back at them. “Why don’t I take your number and we’ll text you later?”
Kyle and Paige exchange numbers. We say goodbye and head out of the arcade.
“What’s going on? What was that face for?”
We step outside to find an icy breeze blowing. Paige unlocks her doors and we get inside quickly. “What face?” I say.
“You look like you were about to be sick in there. Your face turned as white as a ghost.”
“It’s too soon to be going over to some random guy’s house.”
Paige turns her car on and starts backing up. “I thought it would help keep your mind off things.”
“I’m not going to bounce from guy to guy.”
It’s not even five, and the sun is already setting. This weather is making everything so much more depressing.
“We were only going to hang out, not sleep with them.”
I give her a side-eye. “I’m sure that’s what they would expect.”
