We sip our wine, and I say, “We haven’t gotten to talk much since I got back. How are things going with having two kids now?”
“Good. I think.”
“You think?”
She takes a long sip. “Half the time, I worry that I’m doing everything wrong. I’m scared I’ll fuck them up.”
“Leah, I know nothing about being a mother, but I do know that you’re a good one.”
“And how do you know that?” She asks.
“Because bad moms don't worry about what kind of job they’re doing.”
She gives me a small smile. “It still seems a little surreal to me. A few years ago, I was practically homeless. Then, I met your brother, and my whole life changed. Now, I have two amazing kids. Sometimes, it just doesn’t seem real.”
“Yeah, I get that. I mean, not to that extreme, but it still seems surreal being home.”
“How’s it going being back?”
“Pretty good. It’s a little weird. I’m used to things being much crazier, but the past few days have been relatively quiet. It’s a nice change of pace.”
“And how are things going at the shop?”
“Awesome. Jack let me take over the office almost a week ago, and I think I’ve almost got everything in order.”
I spend the next few minutes talking how I’ve collected almost all the money that’s owed and how I redid a lot of the files.
In the middle of my rambling, I suddenly stop. “Oh, dear lord. Listen to me. I sound like the kind of corporate stooge that I make fun of.”
She starts laughing. “Look at little Jo! Growing up!”
I point my finger at her. “You, hush.”
“While I’m always interested to know about the work stuff, I’m more interested in what else is going on at the shop.”
“I assume Dylan told you about my issues with Beau.”
“He just told me there were issues. He didn’t tell me what they were, so spill it, sister.”
“Oh, I don’t know that there is much to tell.” I say, trying to be a little vague because I know it’ll drive her crazy.
“Jo,” she leans forward and lowers her voice. “You have to give me something here. My tattoo client today did nothing buttalk about her kids, which is fine, but I need a little grown up conversation. So, start talking.”
“Working with Beau has been…interesting.”
Leah just raises her eyebrows, waiting for me to continue.
“With me doing a lot of the office stuff, I don’t have to interact with him much. Thank God. When we do have to communicate, it’s pretty brief. Sometimes, I’ll see a small crack in his armor, but then, he realizes it and goes right back to being a dick. It’s like he suddenly remembers he’s supposed to hate me and just flips a switch.”
“What happened between you two? Bad breakup?”
“No, we never dated. We were just best friends.”
“Did you guys fuck and ruin the friendship or something?”
I’m a little surprised Dyl hasn’t already explained any of this to her. Isn’t that what married people are supposed to do? Tell each other everything?
“No. We never fucked. I kissed him once…the very first time we met.”
