“Are you both headed out for the day?” He covers the slat, stopping the doors from closing as we trade him spots.
“Yes. Work-life balance,” Emma responds.
A low rumble of amusement follows his smirk like he doesn’t believe she’s capable of that. “See you tomorrow then.”
He disappears down the right hallway, and I stare after him. Emma leans across me, punching the bottom elevator button. The button for the ground floor illuminates as the doors snap me back to reality.
“He seems—”Judgmental.
I could balance a teacup on Emma’s poised shoulders, so I decide not to comment.
“You know what, never mind. If you’re looking for a Friday night recommendation,Tell Me Lieson Hulu and popcorn for dinner are a go-to.” That’s the one thing I do miss—my Friday nights with Jules. Something I’ll be able to resume when Everett and Quinn move. A bright spot I’ll hang on to on the hard days I know are ahead of me.
She relaxes. A smile curls the corners of her mouth. “That actually sounds perfect! What are you up to this evening?”
“I’ve got Quinn while Everett’s at his Denver show. I’m going to let her pick.”
Adingprecedes our exit on the bottom floor.
“You’ll make the best mom, Summer,” she says, stepping out of the elevator while I stare at her, stunned by her compliment.
I don’t know what she means by that. I’ll make the best mom in general or for Quinn? I’m processing and overanalyzing when she notices that the only sound bouncing off the lobby tile are her stilettos. She looks over her shoulder and chuckles. “Are you coming?”
“Yeah!” I scurry toward her, grateful I gave up on heels after my first day. The blisters and toe rubbing weren’t worth it.
Emma is the first one out the door, greeting someone on the other side. “Can I help you?”
I glance to my right to see who she’s talking to. My ex-husband was the last person on the list of potential people I pictured.
“What are you doing here?” I demand.
“I came to talk to you,” he says, stepping around Emma.
I fold my arms. “I think we said everything there was left to say the last time we spoke.”
A hand rests on my shoulder—a gesture of support. I’ve told Emma I’m divorced before. Considering I don’t ward off men at work on a frequent basis, I’m sure she’ll put the two together. “I’ll see you on Monday” is how I tell her I’m fine. She nods and walks to her car.
“So, youdowork at a law firm,” he continues.
“I told you I did. You’re the one who chose not to believe me.”
“Well, how am I supposed to believe a woman who’s never worked the same job more than two months in a row?”
I’msotired of my job history being the only topic we ever discuss. He shouldn’tcareanymore. As soon as he accepts that, the better off we’ll both be.
He happens to be blocking the side of the parking lot my car is on—probably on purpose—so I have to brush into his shoulder to get by him. “I don’t have time for this. I’m late to pick up Quinn and Henry.”
“Her grandmother already picked her up earlier this afternoon,” he says to my back.
I stop and turn around. “What are you talking about?”
Outside of their Sunday routine at the country club, Everett never mentioned Caroline being involved while he’s out oftown. I must be failing at hiding my confusion based on his malevolent smile.
“Quinn came down to the office sick, and the nurse tried to call her dad. When he didn’t answer, she called the emergency contact we have on file in her records.”
The skipping breakfast, the slow to move, the pink cheeks and bloodshot eyes. Quinn wasn’t missing her dad this morning;she’s sick. That’s something I should have realized. I should have never sent her to school. This is all my fault.
“I need to go!” I sprint to my car.
