Me
I hadn’t heard, and she’s welcome to him.
I hit Send and swipe underneath my left eye.
“He doesn’t deserve your tears.”
Taking a seat next to Mom’s empty chair, the pink-haired girl sets her helmet down on the table and proceeds to spread a thick cream on what I think is a scone before smearing strawberry jelly on top.
I remain transfixed until I finally croak out, “Excuse me?”
She lifts her deep brown eyes to mine, her winged black eyeliner applied to perfection.
“I said that he isn’t worth your tears. Crying over an asshole feeds his audacity. The only emotion a man is entitled to pull from a woman is joy.” She winks suggestively. “If you catch my drift.”
Despite myself, a bubble of laughter bursts from my chest, garnering a smile from her in turn.
“That’s better …” She pauses, waiting on me to supply a name.
“Billie,” I say and then point to Blake as my daughter peacefully stares up at me with inquisitive eyes. “And this is Blake.”
She sets her knife down and wipes her hands together, offering one out to me. “Collins.”
“That’s your first name?” I ask, liking that we both have uncommon names.
She just smiles. “It is.”
Supporting Blake with one arm, I pick up my coffee and take a sip.
“So, am I right?” she asks, getting straight to the point. “Are your tears being wasted on a douchebag?”
“Exactly right.” My confident response catches me off guard, almost like this girl’s directness is contagious.
Collins nods once, taking a first bite of scone and closing her eyes as she swallows. “Thought so.” She tips her head in the direction of the restrooms. “Is that your mom?”
Collins must’ve clocked who I was sitting with when she first entered the café.
I feel my cheeks heat before confirming, “Yeah.”
She tips her head to one side, eyes narrowing a fraction. “What’s wrong about being seen out with your parents?”
I set a kiss in the center of Blake’s head; her soft hair is always a soothing sensation. “Nothing’s wrong with it,” I reply. “I’m just not supposed to be here.” I motion with my chin toward Blake. “In Brooklyn, with a baby. I should be thinking about my senior year in college, basking in the Texas sun.”
For a second, I worry that my statement sounds ungrateful for what I have when, truthfully, I couldn’t be more thankful to have Blake in my life.
I set my eyes back on Collins, hoping she will understand what I’m trying to say.
Her knowing smile unravels the knot of tension forming between my shoulder blades.
“But isn’t that what’s great about life?” Her voice is full of wonder as she casts her eyes around the café, packed to the brim with customers. “I personally love it when life throws you lemons or a curveball.”
“Why is that?”
She leans forward, lowering her voice. “Because that’s when you find out who your real people are.” When she sits back in her chair, a slow smile creeps across her face. “When the going gets rough, those around you—old and new in your life—show themselves for who they really are. Including yourself. You discover the depths of your determination and strength.” She tips her chin at Blake. “Her father is the one responsible for your tears, right?”
I roll my eyes at thoughts of Tucker and Rachael linking hands around campus. She was always after him, and she was one of the main girls who started up the cheating rumors. She was likely telling the truth and sleeping with him long before we broke up.
“How did you guess?”
