Page 23 of Ask Me Something

“Call me after.”

After making my way out of the stall, I reapplied my lip gloss, smoothed my hair, and headed back to the table.

“Where were you? Your food is getting cold,” Addison commented, already shoveling down some oysters.

I took a moment to deal with her friend Leslie first. Considering the woman had at least thirty pounds on me, it was unbelievable that she would say something about the size of my ass. “Hey, Leslie, Addison didn’t tell me. When are you due?”

Addison’s eyes got big, and Ryan almost spit out his drink.

“I’m not pregnant,” Leslie stuttered, instantly horrified.

“But I thought you were having a baby, or was I wrong?”

She appeared relieved, thinking I had the timing wrong. “That was last year. Chelsea is almost a year old now.”

“I guess it’s true what they say, then. Some women never lose that baby weight.” I got some satisfaction watching her about choke on her food and faced my sister who was glaring at me.

“That was cruel. You have no idea how hard—” Addison started to say.

I cut her off. “You’re right. I don’t have any idea. After all, I’m clearly not cut out to be a mother. I think I’m better than everyone in this town, and I’m evidently the worst aunt in the world to your kids, too? You have to shove the baby on me.” She paled considerably.

Ryan spoke up and looked between the two of us. “What’s this about? Addy?”

At least my sister had the decency to look embarrassed.

“You know what? I’m probably going to skip the fried food. Evidently, I’ve gained a few pounds since summer and my ass looks kind of big in these pants. Right, Leslie? But it’s okay; I’ll be the cruel one.”

She and my sister exchanged looks but neither knew what to do.

I wouldn’t give them the opportunity to try to figure it out. “Ryan, it was nice to see you again. You tell my nieces and nephews we’ll have to take a rain check on our movie day tomorrow. According to your wife, she has to force them into spending time with me, and I’d hate to do that to them.”

My voice almost cracked on the last word, but I kept my composure and left a stunned Ryan, flushed Leslie, and pale Addison with the aftermath of Sasha-B-Fierce.

* * *

Home was onlyten minutes away. My parents were in the living room watching television when I came through the door.

“Oh, you’re back early. Everything all right?” my mother asked.

Plastering a smile on my face, I went over to give them both kisses on the cheek. “Yes, everything’s fine, but I have to leave tonight. I was hoping to get through the week without a client crisis, but turns out I have to be in Charlotte in the morning. So I’m driving over now.”

My mom looked disappointed and then inadvertently made me feel guilty. “I thought you were spending tomorrow with the kids. Kylie will be especially disappointed. She loves spending time with her Aunt Sasha.”

“According to Addison, she doesn’t. I don’t want to get into it. I’m just going to get my stuff. I’ll be back down.” The very last thing I wanted to do was force my nieces and nephews to spend time with me. I was barely in their lives. To expect them to be excited about a seeing someone they hardly knew was selfish on my part and I didn’t blame them for their lack of enthusiasm.

A few minutes later, I was ready to go, suitcase in hand.

“It’s awfully late to be driving,” my dad commented. The policeman in him was always worried about my safety.

I squeezed his hand. “I’ll be in before midnight and send you guys a text when I arrive.”

It was tempting to stay the night with them instead, but I knew my sister would be over with the kids in the morning, and I’d be trapped. No way would I make this easy on her.

My mom got up and moved toward the kitchen. “I wish you didn’t have to work so much, but we understand. Let me pack up some pie and stuff to take with you.”

It was futile to argue and, hell, maybe I would need some pumpkin pie for the road. I hadn’t touched my dinner.

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