She tipped her head back and laughed at my joke. “Me too.”
Two hours later, my back hurt and my neck had a serious crick in it, but I’d managed to recreate cartoonish versions of Frankenstein, a witch, a pumpkin, a mummy, a ghost, a black cat and a zombie on thirty different soup cans. Plus, I’d painted a pumpkin pyramid on the bean bag toss board. They weren’t half bad.
“I didn’t know you were such an artist,” Jamie said, admiring my work. “These look awesome!”
I brushed hair out of my eyes with the back of my hand, still wielding my paintbrush. “Yeah, they turned out okay. I used to paint a lot in high school, I just haven’t had time since Max.”
I expected her to say something about my teen pregnancy, but she smiled in empathy instead. “I know what you mean. Harper is constant. I don’t even remember what I like to do that doesn’t involve Disney princesses or playing Barbies.”
“Right? Or apps. I think I spend half my life navigating all the different free games he downloads on my phone.”
“I was just saying that to Jason! I told him, we just need to hand over our credit card and let Harper pay for apps that aren’t crap. Anything to end the madness.”
A door opened somewhere nearby and socked feet padded our way. Jamie looked up and smiled that same dreamy smile again.
“What are you saying about me?” Jason demanded.
I half-turned around on my bar stool to wave awkwardly at him. Suddenly I felt like I’d been caught somewhere I didn’t belong. Like I was seventeen again and Jamie had invited me over to break into the liquor cabinet, but her parents had shown up mid-heist.
Logically, I knew it wasn’t the same thing, nor would I get into trouble for being in a house the owner had invited me into. But I couldn’t shake the vibe that I didn’t belong.
It was like when I was driving through town and the sheriff pulled up next to me. I always had to double check my seatbelt and turn down the radio. Like he was going to arrest me for being an irrationally paranoid person.
“Hey, Ruby,” Jason said, smiling kindly.
I was surprised he knew my name. “Hey.”
“You’re covered in paint,” a deeper voice said from behind him.
I turned fully around and found Levi standing just inside the kitchen, his shoulder perched against the wide arched entrance to the kitchen. Seeing him there, without shoes on, dressed in faded blue jeans and a worn Nebraska Cornhuskers t-shirt, he somehow managed to steal my breath and send my heart into a flurry of nervous skipping.
“What’s up, Cole?” Jamie chirped. “How are the boys doing?”
She meant the Huskers. Both Jason and Levi grumbled something unhappily without giving an actual answer. I wondered what kind of husband Jason was when it came to the pride and joy of Nebraska. Did he shrug off a loss like a rational thinking human being? Or did he sulk and pout about it for the entire week?
He walked around the island and rubbed Jamie’s shoulders, kissing her temple tenderly. He seemed like one of the good ones.
“Where are the kids?” he asked.
“Watching a movie,” Jamie answered. “Sufficiently sugared.”
“Max is probably passed out by now,” I murmured, brushing at my forehead again, self-conscious about the paint now. “He’s not used to so many snacks.”
“Oh, god,” Jason groaned. “Don’t tell me you’re one of those gluten-free, non-dairy, granola moms.”
Shaking my head, I said, “I think granola has gluten.”
Jason made a face. “You know what I mean.” Taking a few backward steps, he added, “I’m going to go check on the kids. Make sure that Max kid has his hands where I can see them.” He winked at me, letting me know he was kidding.
“See, I told you he was completely unmanageable when it comes to Harper.” Jamie laughed, following after him.
Levi and I were left alone and suddenly the gigantic open space of their house felt tiny. This kitchen, that was the same size as my entire home, felt too small to take a breath, let alone hold both Levi and me.
“Did you do those?” he asked before I could jump down from my stool and flee.Sorry Max, find your own way home!
I glanced at the painted soup cans and shrugged. “Jamie wants to make it the most epic first grade Halloween party of all time. I’m just her minion.”
His mouth split into a grin. “Do you mean you’re the only person still willing to help her?”
