Page 22 of Heart of Gold

“Yes, I didn’t think that would work!” She pumps her fists and runs into the living room.

I slump into my chair and pop the last cracker sandwich in my mouth.

“What a way to enter your thirties,” my mom says, holding up her glass so we can cheers. “How was dinner?”

“Awful,” I say. “I cleaned out a full sleeve of Ritz crackers.”

“You didn’t eat at the restaurant?”

I shake my head. “He didn’t either. I had to sit in my car for thirty minutes so I was sober enough to drive, though.”

“Now, that man is out there. Yards from his daughter.”

“Yep. Hence this.” I hold up my glass.

“I don’t blame you.” She takes a sip. “Do we know if he’s, you know, dangerous?”

“Max is fine. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s supine with shock for the whole night. Or anger.”

“He was mad?”

“Yeah, it was weird. I can’t think about it for too long, though.”

“If anyone has a right to be mad, it’s you.” Mom pushes up her sleeves and stands up, readjusting her shirt over her hips. “Maybe I should go talk to him.”

“No,” I yell, grabbing my mother’s forearm. “Let him be.”

“I can call one of the boys to stay with you. Or I can.”

The door rattles with a knock. My mom gives me a look of terror.

“It’s fine. It’s probably Caroline.”

Mom stands and pushes the curtains aside covertly. She opens the door to my long-time friend, Caroline Brady.

“Caroline, it is so nice to see you,” Mom says, taking her in a hug. Caroline has a small duffel bag in one hand and a bag from the grocery store in another. “You didn’t need to come all the way out here. Where’s the baby?”

“With his father. Brady can handle him.”

Caroline had a baby eight months ago, and we haven’t seen each other since after her wedding. My family was invited but was unable to go. I heard there was a fight that was pretty epic.

Caroline’s strawberry-blond hair is tied at the base of her head, and she’s wearing comfy athleisure, a shirt off the shoulder with a bra peeping through, and tight black leggings. I should change, but I have no energy whatsoever.

“We made a pact,” Caroline says. “Hence, why I brought two more bottles of wine.”

I sigh. “You’re an angel.”

“Pact?” Mom’s eyes shot to me.

“When it looked like Max wasn’t going to be in Olive’s life, Caroline promised she would come immediately if he showed up again,” I say.

“Also, happy birthday!” Caroline shouts. She dips her hands into the brown grocery bag and extracts a cake, decorated with white and gold frosting. “Read the top.”

I hover over it. “‘Thirty, flirty, and dealing with a baby daddy.’ Cute.”

“I thought so. It kinda rhymes,” Caroline says, walking to my cabinets, opening and closing them. “Where are your plates?”

“I’m not hungry,” I say.

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