“It’s only temporary. If we decide to buy something in Haven Springs, we’ll get something bigger.”
“You wouldn’t build?”
“My contractor’s license is only good in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. I’m working on Vermont and Rhode Island.”
“Why not get one in North Carolina, too?” Lainey asked.
“Because I don’t think it’d be worth the cost. My crews are based in New England.”
“I guess that makes sense.”
I reached for the handle of Ruthie’s car seat. “I hate to grab my kid and run, but I have Golden Dragon in the car, so…”
Lainey made a shooing motion. “Go. Enjoy your Chinese food.” Her grin was smug when she continued, “And tell Jess to text me when she gets a chance.”
****
Jessica
The smell of food stirred me from my spot on the couch, and I slowly sat up—fully aware of what I probably looked like—ratty hair, smeared mascara and lipstick, and more than likely a crease along my cheek from where I’d slept on the pillow.
“I didn’t even hear you come in,” I remarked when Alan walked into the room with two plates in his hand.
“I’m glad. I tried to be quiet,” he said as he handed me a plate, then sat down on the couch next to me.
“Thank you.” I glanced around. “Were you able to pick up Ruthie?”
“Yeah, she’s sleeping in the kitchen. We should be able to hear her if she starts to fuss.”
Good. I trusted Adam and Lainey, but I didn’t like being apart from my daughter for too long.
Using my fork, I stirred the Orange Chicken into the white rice he’d also put on my plate. “This looks great.” I glanced at his plate and asked, “What’d you get?”
“I couldn’t decide, so I got beef lo mein and General Tso’s chicken.”
“I’ve never had either one of those.”
He held out his fork with a bite of noodles on it. “You want to try it?”
I shook my head. “No, thank you.”
“I’m sure I’ll have leftovers if you want some later.”
“Thanks.”
I’d just taken a bite of my chicken when he asked, “So, what kind of porn did you watch?” and I immediately started coughing.
I grabbed my glass of water and took a drink before I replied, “Um, Kristy sent me a few links. She said if I was going to look up videos on my own to be sure and search for ‘porn for women’.”
“That’s good advice.” He paused. “So, did you? Look up videos on your own?”
I stared at my plate and mumbled, “Maybe a few.”
“What did you search?”
He genuinely seemed to want to know, so I mustered some courage and said, “Different positions. Ruthie’s dad would only do missionary.”
His tone was clipped when he said, “I’mRuthie’s dad.”
