“Oh, how was your date?” Birdie asked as I walked past her to the changing room, dread filling my stomach.
My date?
Oh shit. I forgot I cancelled my date last night.
My first instinct was to lie and say “fine,” but that would be ridiculous. The truth would come out sooner or later that I’d spent the evening at Adam’s. That is if they didn’t already know. I wouldn’t put it past either of them to spy on his house.
“I didn’t go.”
Birdie stopped mid-steam again. “Why not?”
I grabbed appropriate undergarments I’d need to change into that we had in stock before going into a stall to change.
I shut the door and pulled off my shirt. “I ran into Adam.”
“Oh, how is he?” Birdie asked.
“He’s…” I hesitated. I wasn’t going to tell them how I actually thought he was doing, which wasn’t great.
“He’s a dad.” I dropped the bomb.
“Wait? What?!" Bailey screeched.
“He has twin girls, they are five years old. They’re adorable, Joey and Andi.”
I was relieved that my sisters couldn’t see my face as I was relaying this information to them. They would read too much into it. Every expression would be scrutinized.
“Wow.” Bailey’s footsteps came closer to the dressing room. “So is he married, or is he still with their mom?”
“He didn’t actually know they existed until last week.” I explained the entire situation, and even though it was quiet in the salon before, you could hear a pin drop by the time I finished.
“Oh my gosh,” Birdie whispered, as if it were a secret or there was anyone else there to hear it.
“Genesis Milan. He’s datingGenesis Milan,” Bailey repeated her name in disbelief. “Did you see her Sports Illustrated cover?”
“No, I missed that one,” I stated flatly. But now I was definitely going to look it up.
“Or her Victoria’s Secret walk?”
Bailey was just listing her resume now.
“Nope.” Going to be googling that later.
“So is Genesis going to move here now?” Birdie inquired.
“I have no idea.” Would she move, or would they just continue to do long distance? Either way, his girlfriend wasGenesis Milan.I slid on my robe and knew I had to face my sisters. I just hoped my expression wouldn’t reveal my true feelings, not that there was even anything to reveal. I wasn’t jealous of her. I refused to be.
As I opened the door, Birdie asked, “So how was it? Seeing him again after all these years?”
Strange. Weird. Heartbreaking. Heart-healing. Exactly the same. Totally different. Perfect. Horrible. Heaven. Hell. Devastating. Electrifying.
“Good,” I shot for monotone, with absolutely zero emotion. If I even let a sliver of feeling out, then I feared the floodgates would open.
Both Bailey and Birdie blinked at me, wearing matching expressions of confusion.
“Good?” Bailey parroted back at me.
“Mmm, hmm.” I walked past her, took my seat in the makeup and hair chair, and began to scroll on my phone.
