“I’m your favorite smartass.” Her grin stretches wide across her face.
“Language, young lady,” I remind her. I walk a fine line between mom and cool aunt when it comes to Sunny. I legally adopted her after her parents died so I’m technically her mother, but I still feel like just her aunt in so many ways.
She’s so much like Belle, sometimes it feels like I’m hanging out with my sister as a kid. As if her spontaneous and extroverted personality wasn’t enough, she’s the spitting image of my sister. Athletic build, average height, chestnut brown wavy hair, and an infectious smile that lights up a room. She got her freckles and blue eyes from Alex, but that’s it. Everything else is Belle to a T.
Skye finishes setting up her French press and walks around the bar to sit next to me. Sunny assembles the breakfast plates and hands them to us, placing her own plate on the counter and standing to eat while facing us.
I grab the syrup and start to pour it over my pancakes. “We have to get you some school shoes today, so let’s head out after breakfast so we beat the crowds, yeah?”
“Monty, I hate shoe shopping!” Sunny whines and tilts her head back like shoe shopping is akin to torture. I do not understand this child. What female does not enjoy shoe shopping?! I hate crowds but even I’ll brave the masses for new shoes.
“Tell your feet to stop growing and then we can stop buying shoes every three months.” I give her a flat, this-is-not-my-fault smile, and then shove a bite of pancake into my mouth.
“Um, I want new shoes!” Skye chimes in. “Do I get to come with?”
“Sure. I don’t care. But I’m not paying for yours, too. I don’t care if your birthday is next week.”
“Never mind, then. I guess I don’t NEED new shoes. I could use a new top, though. I have two interviews this week and I’m sure they’d like to see my professional side rather than my typical crazy.”
“You? Crazy? But leopard print has never looked so classy!” I poke fun at Skye and her eccentric sense of style.
“Yeah, Skye.” Sunny’s talking with a mouth full of food. “I’m sure a new top won’t matter once they spend an hour with your calm and professional personality.” I try not to spit out my food while laughing.
“You both suck.” Skye slaps me on the arm before pressing her coffee and pouring it into her mug.
“I’m with you on needing new professional attire. I think I’m good on shoes, but I need something more business casual for my new job with Dr. Matthews. I’m pretty sure yoga pants and cropped sweaters aren’t in the dress code.”
Dr. Abigail Matthews — my new supervising professor and boss at Middle Peak University. When I started looking into master’s programs to finally finish my graduate degree, I wasn’t sure where to start since I wasn’t seeking out a specific professor as a mentor. I would have gone anywhere to study with Dr. Ryan, but when that relationship went to shit and I dropped out of my first master’s program, I didn’t think through what I’d do in the future if I wanted to go back and finish. Working with him again was never an option, and I haven’t spent any time in academic circles these past nine years so I had no idea where to begin.
My priorities are also a bit different this go-round. My first foray into graduate studies came with scholarships and the hope of an eventual fellowship and PhD. This time, however, scholarships aren’t really an option. My budget is tight, and I’m no longer responsible for only myself. I also didn’t want to move Sunny too far away from her grandparents, so my best option was MPU.
A bit later we’re headed to the holy grail of retail stores: Target. Nothing like a one-stop shop for clothing, home decor, groceries, and toiletries.
“Oooooh, Monty! Look at all the glitter!” Sunny is practically salivating at the pink, sparkly high tops on the shelf. One problem — they’re $35. There’s no way in hell I’m paying that much for a pair of high-tops she’s going to grow out of in a few months.
“Sunny, babe, that’s way too much money for a pair of shoes.” The look she gives me is pleading. I hate saying no to that sweet face.
“Nope. Not too much. Check the app.” Skye pushes her phone in front of my face and sure enough, today is 20 percent off shoes for the family.
“Can I, can I, can I?” Sunny’s pleading is adorably annoying. Especially when she starts running in place like she has to pee.
“Sure, kid. Go for it.” She squeals her delight, clapping her hands and hopping up and down. I chuckle and roll my eyes before walking toward the women’s department to find myself an outfit for meeting Dr. Andrews.
Two hours and $375 later (shoot me), Sunny’s wardrobe is officially school ready and I won’t look like a teenage hobo when I meet my new advisor. And even though I could have made do with my current selection, I saw an adorable pair of yellow flats and decided they would come home with me. I know I’m thirty and shouldn’t be nervous, but the thought of returning to school and meeting a ton of new people makes my skin crawl. I’m not very peopley, to state it mildly.
We’re walking out to the car when my phone goes off. It’s not Mom’s ringtone, so I ignore it.
“You gonna get that?” Skye looks at me like I’m insane for ignoring my cell.
“Um, no? I’ll check it later.” She rolls her eyes at me and clicks the fob to open the trunk.
“What if it’s Mr. Tall, Dark, and Bearded?” She smirks and lifts an eyebrow. I blush and look at my feet. Thankfully, Sunny’s already climbing into the car and buckling her seatbelt, so she can’t hear our conversation.
“I’ve been thinking about that, and as swoon-worthy as he was, I don’t think now is the right time to get involved with anyone. We’ve been here less than a week, I’m about to start a new program, and I also have Sunny. There’s no way I’m bringing a man into her life right now.”
“Who said anything about introducing him to Sunny?! Or getting serious, for that matter. You haven’t even gone on a real date in years. What’s the harm in having some fun?” Skye may be able to simply have fun with a man, but I’m not built that way. At least, I haven’t been that way since the accident.
“You know I’m not a casual girl.” I give her an exasperated look. She’s not deterred.
