“Why don’t you drive her home? I’ll have Justin and Erin take me home. You can come back for your car later tonight or something,” she suggested.
“I need my car,” I argued.
“Okay, well you and Thomas ride in his car, and I’ll drive yours back.” I knew that there was a way around this, but my mind was fuzzy from the alcohol and couldn’t focus enough to figure it out.It was only when we were on the highway did I realize the answer. I smacked the dashboard excitedly.
“I could have driven with Stacey! Then she could get a ride home from you.”
Thomas burst out laughing. “Wow, is being around me that bad?” He lifted his arms to take an exaggerated sniff. “I didn’t miss my weekly shower,” he teased. I rolled my eyes and looked over at him.
“You’re not that bad. It’s just weird. Seeing you after so long, with our history,” I muttered.
“True. But it’s not like we were together when you left. It shouldn’t be weird. We’re friends, always will be Renee.”
“You’re sure?”
“Of course. I was happy for you when you left. I wasn’t pining for you or anything. We’d both moved on from that puppy love way before you bounced.”
“Yeah, you’re right, I guess. Sorry, I didn’t mean to be so dramatic,” I said.
“Eh, all good. I just chalk it up to your theatre background,” he teased.
When we got to my house, I thanked him and gave him a brief hug.
“I’m glad I got to see you again. It’s been too long,” he told me. I nodded.
“Too long. Maybe I’ll see you around the theater sometime. Stacie and Erin have been pushing me to jump back in.”
Before anymore could be said my front door opened and we saw my darling husband in the door frame. Thankful for the excuse I waved goodbye and hurried inside and away from Thomas’ lingering eyes.
* * *
“Morning Sleepy.” My dearest husband kissed my forehead, trying to wake me. I groaned and put the pillow over my head.
“Oh come on. I’ve got coffee,” he enticed. I inhaled deeply and sure enough the smell of coffee beans wafted into my nostrils. Opening my eyes, I sighed but sat up. I took the mug from his hands and took a long, slow sip.
“Mm, thank you,” I kissed him when he leaned down.
“I know you’ve been pulling double duty with shuffling the kids around and helping build the sets these last few weeks. I figured you could be the one to sleep in this weekend.” He kissed me again and then called the dogs to leave with him while I finished waking up.
Tonight was opening night, finally. I was so ready to be done with escorting the twins back and forth every night. Despite the time moving so fast, I was exhausted. Plus, Christmas was coming up, and I hadn’t done any shopping yet. I was usually done by this time every year. Taking one last long gulp of my coffee I stood up and jumped in the shower.
By the time I made it downstairs I was running late to my hair appointment. Once my hair was refreshed, I ran home and grabbed the guys so we could get to the show early. On the I asked Mark stop at a flower shop and we each picked out a small bouquet of various flowers to give the twins at the end. “I still think we should have gotten one of those cookie bouquets or something. Dall ain’t gonna want these,” Derek waved his flowers around in the back. I turned my head to look back at him.
“Yeah, probably not but its the thought. Maybe for their next show I’ll make something like that to bring.”
We parked and when we got out of the car, we saw the rest of our crew waiting by Ethan’s BMW. We went to join them. The Andrews’, the Wilson’s, and even Tabatha came.
“I convinced Scott, our bodyguard, to watch Blue so I could come,” she explained when I greeted her.
“You bought flowers too?” Cleo asked from behind me.
“Yeah, why did you grab some?” Mark asked, he shot a glare at me. Ethan smirked.
“Yeah, we all did.” He turned around and opened the back passenger door. We peered inside and counted six bouquets.
“Do you have the tickets, babe?” Cleo asked Ethan. He patted his sports coat chest pocket.
“Yep. Everyone ready?” With murmured agreements we all headed inside together. Some teenagers acting as ushers helped us to our seats. We all sat together in one line, taking up an entire row. The theatre was small, only seating about a hundred and fifty people tops. Within minutes the room was packed tight with other eager parents and family excited to see their little ones on stage.
