“I’m not making any promises, because I don’t know what I may need to do to keep you in line.”
She scoffs a sound. “Cute.”
She moves to walk away, but I instantly grab her arm to stop her. “Where are you going?”
“I'm going to meet up with Piper for coffee. I think it’s better that I get out of the house for a little bit. You know what, maybe it’s not such a great idea that I’m here. The whole sex tape thing will blow over, right? I mean, surely we're overreacting.”
I give her a peculiar look as she rambles nervously. “Even more reason for you to stay. If it does leak, which it won’t, but if it does, then the last thing I need is any more reason for it to turn negative. I have an image I need to maintain for my contract, and also for Hadley, who may look back one day at articles.”
I swear a flare of empathy warms April’s brown eyes before she swallows. “Okay.”
She doesn’t move, nor do I, and our eyes are locked in a moment that feels like we are even on the vulnerability front. I know the reason her fiancé left her, and she knows about Hadley.
And for some reason, even though I don’t need to, I even the playing field even more. “That night,” I begin.
April glances away then back to me.
I continue, “I needed an escape for one night.”
A hint of a smirk tilts the corner of her mouth. “Must be something in the Lake Spark water then, because you chose to spend it with me,” she attempts to make a joke.
We both acknowledge the realization of why that night happened. Our own personal reasons led to finding refuge in one another’s arms, of someone we love to hate.
April makes a sound with her tongue, debating how to leave. “Uhm, I'll be back later. I think a breather for a second or two and coffee is a good idea.”
“Sure.” I step back with my hands in the air to give her space before leaning against the wall with my arms folded over my chest.
She slowly walks away and then stops to look over her shoulder. “I kind of have a lot of questions about the whole you’re-a-dad thing, like,a lot.”
“Understandable.”
She returns on her journey to the stairs but pauses again and turns to me with her finger in the air. “The apple sauce. It’s for Hadley, isn’t it?”
I nod in agreement.
“That’s a relief. I’ve never known a grown man to eat from an apple sauce jar with a cartoon on it.”
I scratch my cheek, trying to suppress my laugh.
“Super confused,” she whispers, and I can tell she is still taking in the situation, but she continues to make her way upstairs.
I give myself a moment to consider the predicament that I find myself in. I have two girls living in my house. One a woman who speaks her mind, often at my expense, yet she just gave me a temporary truce for the last ten minutes. The other is a little girl who I wish would tell me the thoughts in her head. Now I have to balance them both in one house.
7
APRIL
Iscoop out the jellybean from my coffee. I'm sitting in Jolly Joe’s, the soda shop-styled candy store, ice cream parlor, and bakery that decided that putting jellybeans in coffee was a good idea, but it’s truly revolting.
“Surely the bean melts in my coffee, so essentially my no-sugar latte is now a sugar latte.” I highlight this fact to Piper who's sitting across from me bouncing her baby daughter in one arm and stirring her latte in the other, sporting her big shiny wedding ring on her finger.
Piper glances around the store, which is decorated like an old soda shop, including a jukebox in one corner. “It’s fun. You never know what color you'll get,” she points out.
Taking a sip of my, okay, admittedly delicious coffee, I hum an answer that maybe she is right. Setting my coffee down, though, I must point out the obvious. “I’m kind of done with the surprise train for a little bit.”
“Why?” She scouts the room then leans in to whisper, “Sex tape wasn’t enough for you?” Her humor causes me to roll my eyes because only she can get away with it since she's my best friend. “Is that freaking you out?”
“Nah. His lawyer is only the best, she works in my mother’s firm. I mean, she hasn’t lost a case in like forever. The sex tape is looking tame compared to other events. Apparently, Mr. Pain in my Ass—”
