Page 21 of Mister Mom

I shake my head. “I’m not looking for more money. What I need isn’t really about money.”

He tilts his head and a sour look crosses his face before he shoots me what I assume is his fake smile. I haven’t seen that one yet. I should spit it out.

“As far as amenities, you can give me a list and I’ll make sure it’s all in your trailer during shooting. We can get you set up with transportation if you’d like. I won’t have anything until I talk with the investor, but that’s not going to happen until you agree.”

I have to admit this level of power is intoxicating. I’ve never been on the end of negotiations where I held all the cards.

“No.” I shake my head. “My needs are more immediate.”

His face distorts and he looks over to Payne, who is trying to get his head into the prize slot of the game.

“Shit.” Vance slides out from the booth and runs over to my son.

They say timing is everything and as far as these things go, Payne’s isn’t the best given what I have to ask Vance.

6

Layla

Vance has one hand in the toy exit compartment by the time I reach them. Payne’s head pops out, but his arm is still stuck.

“What were you thinking?” I shriek. Okay, my voice might be on the cusp of a scream.

“I want the poop emoji.” Payne winces and Vance tries to twist his arm to get it out.

“Did you think you could squeeze your entire body in there?”

I’m still in disbelief and completely mortified that Payne went this far for a stuffed animal that I could buy at Walgreens for a few bucks.

“I’m not that big.”

Vance glances over to me and he’s probably thinking to himself, Save up for college, lady, because there’ll be no scholarships here. Then he focuses on helping my son escape.

“That hurts!” Payne yells.

“He’s trying to help you.” My teeth are clenched as I give him my best ‘shut up and be polite’ expression, hoping that this one time he understands.

“Ouch.” Payne’s voice moves down an octave.

“Sorry, buddy, I think I almost have it.” Vance looks to the waitress who’s now joined the show. “Can you get us a bag of ice?”

I look over my shoulder and see her scrambling toward the kitchen.

Vance’s gaze locks with mine. “He’ll be fine, just a little sore.” A smile appears on his face and in that moment, my body relaxes.

Payne pulls his arm through the hole and I’m prepared for him to hug me, tell me how scared he was, but of course that doesn’t happen. Instead Vance wraps his one good arm around Payne and sits next to him as the waitress hands Vance the bag of ice.

My ass falls down to rest on my heels and I watch the display of affection Vance has for a kid who isn’t his. A kid who in all honesty probably annoys the shit out of him.

“It’s red, but you’re fine. Next time, come and get me.” Vance winks at Payne.

“What would you do?” Payne asks, the corners of his lips tipped up.

“I’ll win it for you.”

“How?”

I stay silent, enjoying the conversation happening between them. It’s nothing of importance. Vance isn’t telling Payne how to behave. Not reprimanding him for something. He’s just talking to him and Payne’s actually responding.

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