Me
Can we talk? Please, Colson? I have so much I need to say to you.
I stared at the screen, waiting for the message to showDeliveredand for the bubbles to appear under Colson’s side, telling me he was writing back.
After several minutes, neither happened. No bubbles, noDelivered.
Which only told me one thing.
Colson had blocked me.
I walked several paces past the unmarked door, keeping my back to it while I held my cell to my ear. “Hey, baby.”
This was a phone call I should have made in the car, but I hadn’t thought of it.
My head was still all over the place.
“Mommy!”
I smiled. “How was dinner?”
“Yummy steak! Heather let me dip it in ketchup.” She giggled.
“Oh, she did, did she?”
As an extremely health-conscious foodie, Heather tried toencourage the elimination of unneeded sauces. I had no issue with that, but I also appreciated a balance for my four-year-old, like there had been tonight.
“How about dessert?”
“MMM, lemon bars! That made my cheeks hurt!”
I laughed. “Sounds delicious.” I turned toward the mouth of the alley, where there was a flash of headlights, telling me my time alone was limited. “I have to go, baby, but I love you.”
“Love you and miss you, Mommy.”
My eyes squinted shut as the guilt rode high in my throat. “I miss you, Abbi.”
“You won’t be here to tuck me in.”
The sadness in her voice was because she was tired. She’d had dinner, a bath, and now it was about twenty minutes until bedtime. When my girl was nearing sleep, emotions often got the best of her.
“Heather’s going to tuck you in, my love. And she’s going to push back your hair, just the way you like it.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll see you in the morning. I’ll be there when you wake up, and we’ll have breakfast together. Okay?”
“Bye, Mommy.”
“Bye, baby.”
I kept the phone in my hand as I walked to the unidentifiable door and knocked on it. When it swung open, I handed my cell to the security guard, which would be locked away until I departed. I went through the proper steps to confirm my membership and prove I didn’t have any other traceable electronics tucked into my dress before I was permitted into the lobby of Lush.
From there, I headed to the bar, taking a seat in the corner, giving me a full view of the entire space, including everyone who was in here and anyone coming in. Of course, Colsoncould be in one of the hallways or the multiple rooms on either side, but I wasn’t checking those. After seeing him here twice, I had learned that he didn’t come until later in the evening and his first stop was always the bar.
So, I stayed right here, and I didn’t move, nor did I accept a single offer despite there being many. I wasn’t here to play with anyone but him.
I allowed myself one martini, extra filthy, and I sipped it while I focused on the faces entering the room.
