Twenty minutes later, Bella is on my porch, a grocery bag in hand.
“What’s in the bag?” I gesture for her to come in.
“Miss Carlisle!” Micah squeals as he runs over to hug Bella.
“You can just call me Miss Bella outside of school, silly.” She looks around the room. “I’m missing one. Where’s the little tornado?”
“He’s pooping,” Micah announces.
“Or he’s in the bathroom so he can use potty words again.”
“That’s so cute,” Bella says, taking the backpack from me as she hands me the grocery bag.
“It is until you get a call from his preschool three times in one week.”
“Oof. We’ll work on it. He’s still got a couple years before he’s in my class.”
“You enjoy yourself for a few hours, I’ve got the boys. And check your phone before you open that bag.”
“This feels like a setup. And I didn’t enjoy the last one you were involved with,” I say, thinking back to my terrible date with Temu Ben Affleck.
“Seriously, Lucy, the girls and I are all happy to help. I know you think you have to do everything on your own, but we’re here.”
Tears well in my eyes and I blink rapidly as she pulls me into a hug. I’ve known these women since middle and high school, but we only became close once we all started having kids. I’ve always wanted kids, but I never knew how isolating it could be, and these women saved me. Maybe I can lean on them a little more.
“Call me if they’re too much—” I start.
“No such thing. I can handle a class of kindergarteners, this is nothing. And there’s no such thing as too much between friends,” Bella says against my ear.
She rounds up both kids and loads them up in her car. Thankfully my car seats were still on the porch from when Summer dropped them off earlier.
Once I’m alone in my house, I pull out my phone to find a text from Mike.
Hey gorgeous.
I had Bella pick up some bubbles for you to drink and to soak in. I thoroughly enjoyed you last night and if you want to check something else off your list, or want some company in the tub, all you have to do is ask.
I open the bag, and there’s a bottle of prosecco and a bottle of bubble bath. Do I want to spend time with Mike? Absolutely. Should I take advantage of this afternoon off from the kids and get caught up on chores around the house? I should. Am I going to? Hell no.
It takes me about thirty minutes to do a quick cleanup of the kitchen and living room. There are still food crumbs and school papers on the counters, but it’s good enough for company.
As hard as it is for me, I’m going to do something for myself for once and put my needs before others. And I need to get laid. No, I need to get fucked.
Meet me in the tub. I’ll leave the door unlocked for you.
And then I text him my address, pop the top off the prosecco, and saunter upstairs full of false confidence that for once luck will be on my side.
CHAPTER 12
LUCY
“Knock knock.”
I can do this. I will do this. I will do him.
Arranging the bubbles so I’m covered, I take a big swig from the prosecco as I will my heart to calm down. “Come in.”
“Jesus feckin’ Christ.” Mike’s head peeks out from behind the bathroom door. “Can I join you?”
