Page 22 of Ask Me Something

“Hey, Sasha.”

“Hey, Eric,” I said, smiling.

He pulled up a seat. “You look great. So I know you’re in New York, what do you do there?”

“I’m the vice president of the Gamble Advertising office.”

“Wow that sounds important.”

Addison interrupted before I could respond. “Sasha only thinks it is. I keep telling her there is more to life than a title and paycheck.”

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t mind her. She’s extra cranky because she can’t drink.”

“I’m breastfeeding,” she stated.

Eric was clearly uncomfortable with the turn of conversation. “Well I’d hoped to stay longer, but my plans changed tonight with my son coming over. So I’m getting dinner to go. He’s fourteen and in the car playing his video game.”

I was a little stunned to think of someone my age having a fourteen-year-old. But considering that having a kid at age eighteen wasn’t unheard of, I shouldn’t have been too surprised. “What’s his name?”

“Devin.”

“I’d love to say hi to him if that’s all right.”

His face brightened.

Meanwhile, I thought it ironic that I’d be willing to meet someone new in order to escape my sister for a few minutes.

“He’s a flirt, and he’d love to say hey to a pretty girl. Come on, I’ll introduce you.”

After meeting Devin, I complimented Eric on having a teenager with good manners outside of the truck in a whisper so I didn’t embarrass the kid. “Devin is very polite and definitely going to be a looker.” He had dimples and blue eyes very much like his father.

“The manners I can’t take credit for, that would be his mom. But the looks, well, maybe I can take half credit.”

I gave him another hug and Devin a little wave. There might not be a spark with Eric, but there was something heartwarming about seeing the first boy I’d ever been with, all grown up into a man and father.

After heading back inside the restaurant, I went straight for the ladies’ room. I was almost finished in the stall when the sound of my sister’s voice stopped me cold.

“Why do I bother to make the effort? My sister thinks she’s better than everyone in this town.”

“I don’t know why you try, either. And why did she go out there to meet his son as though she likes kids?” Leslie, her best friend, replied.

I held my breath, waiting for Addison to defend me to her friend. Explain to her that I had been here for the birth of every one of her four children. That the kids loved their Aunt Sasha. Point out that I was only being friendly to go out and meet Devin. Polite to meet the son of the man I’d dated sixteen years ago.

“Seriously she’s like the worst aunt in the world. I had to practically shove the baby into her hands yesterday and I have to force the older kids to spend time with her. She hates coming home. It’s like I’m the failure for finding love and being a stay-at-home mom with four children.”

“Some people aren’t cut out to be mothers. She can’t even hold a man for any length of time. And by the way, I think she’s gained some weight since summer. Her ass looks bigger in the pants she’s wearing.”

It took me a few minutes to realize it was now silent, and they’d walked out. Any scenario I had in my head of slamming the door open and telling them both where to go was now lost. I concentrated on my breathing and forced myself to relax. The thing about having anxiety is that I already had a complex that people were talking about me. To have that fact confirmed wasn’t exactly conducive toward believing it was all in my head.

In pulling out my phone, I realized it was still early, only seven o’clock. Since I wasn’t sure I could trust my voice, I texted Brian, figuring he would talk me down.

“Overheard my sister tell her BFF that I’m the worst aunt in the world. In the bathroom stall, ready to embarrass her in front of everyone. Please tell me I’m being irrational and should go straight home!!”

“Leave no prisoners, SBF,”he replied.

I smiled at the Sasha-B-Fierce acronym in spite of how upset I was.I needed a few minutes, and then I’d get it together.

“Thanks for not talking me down, gotta go.”

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