A hand claps my shoulder, and I glance behind me to see Rudy’s self-satisfied look. “You ready to head out?”
No, I want to stay here with the woman who’s captured my attention for the first time in years. But I nod and follow him down the hall back to our ambulance.
CHAPTER 5
LUCY
After the worst date of my life, a speeding ticket I cannot afford, and an embarrassing run-in with that hot firefighter that ended with no broken bones for me and a cast for Micah, I’m resigned to my fate. Lady Luck hates me. Every man in my life lets me down. First my dad, then my shitty ex, and especially Doug. Even Mr. March didn’t stay true to his word. He said he’d watch Micah, but he was nowhere to be found once I got back from my scan.
I know two things with absolute certainty. One, men cannot be trusted. And two, I’m never leaving my house ever again. Or at least not tonight.
“Mama! I’s got no Pull-Ups!”
But I have kids so that’s not an option.
Fuck you, Lady Luck.
I walk into Levi’s room where he’s sitting bare-assed on the carpet. Knowing how poorly this kid wipes his own ass, I shudder and make a mental note to hit that spot with the Bissell tomorrow.
Yawning, I search through Levi’s drawers trying to find him a Pull-Up. “Ugh, I’m so tired, buddy. I just want to go tobed. I feel so old. I used to have all this energy until I had you guys.”
“You’re not old, Mama.”
“Thanks, buddy. But I definitely feel it. Look at all the wrinkles you guys have given me.” I wave a hand in front of my eyes.
“Where?” He scoots his bare ass across the floor like a dog as he tries to get closer to examine my face.
I point to the lines on my forehead and the slight crow’s feet around my eyes. “See?”
“Those aren’t wrinkles.” He furrows his brows in concentration as he looks up at me.
“Yes, they are.”
“I have wrinkles on my tess-tick-uh-bulls. See?” Levi stands up and lifts his shirt as he wiggles his junk around, and Micah erupts into laughter in the doorway.
“Please put on some pants.” I cover my face with my hands to hide my smile. Even when they are being ridiculous and gross, I love these boys so freaking much.
After searching through his dresser and coming up empty, I grab a pair of undies. “I guess we’re going Pull-Up free tonight, buddy.”
“But I need it,” he whines.
Levi was potty-trained very early, much earlier than his brother, but he’s still such a heavy sleeper that we’ve had to rely on a little help at night. How did I not realize we were out of Pull-Ups?
“Fu—” I catch myself. “Fudgsicles!” I groan when I search his closet for extra sheets and a waterproof mattress protector and come up empty. Clearly I’m doing laundry tomorrow too.
“I want a Fudgsicle!” Levi cries.
I really need to come up with alternative curses that don’t involve food he likes to eat. “I’m sorry, buddy, it looks like we’re gonna have to run to the store to get some Pull-Ups.”
“And Fudgsicles!” he adds, pulling on the undies I hand him.
“I want a Fudgsicle too!” Micah calls from the doorway.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I look at the time. Shit, we’ve got fifteen minutes to get to the store before it closes. “Okay, both of you get shoes and coats on, we don’t have much time.” If I try to change them out of their pajamas, we’ll never make it. It’s late enough that we shouldn’t see anyone we know anyway.
Minutes later, by some miracle, we park at Chestnut Mountain Market, and I hurry the boys inside. There isn’t even time to corral them in a cart like I normally would. I nod at Ned as we tear through the store like a pack of rabid raccoons on trash night, running past the aisle of Valentine’s Day items that are marked half off.
Damn, I could use some cheap chocolate, but if I stop near candy, we’ll never get out of here. Luckily the baby section is near the freezers, so we can avoid the confectionary temptation.
