Page 76 of Surrender

None. He’s avoiding me, but he’s been talking to mom. I can tell because she’s acting cagey

Me

Isn’t she always cagey?

Alice

More cagier than usual

Me

I think it’s only fair to let you know the police are looking for him

Alice

That’s fine. I’m planning a trip soon so I can look for him too in order to wring his fucking neck

Me

I hope you’re serious about coming to visit because I miss you. I need my best friend to talk to

Alice

Looking at flights as we speak!

With a final stretch, I extract myself from the comfortable bed. Bennett whines from the portable crib. I gather him close to my chest, where he immediately nuzzles against my neck.

“Good morning, my sweet boy.”

He grunts and whines on my way to the kitchen.

“Monday mornings aren’t your thing either, are they?”

He palms my face and twirls a chubby fist in a lock of my hair. I retaliate by kissing his little chunky cheeks.

The crackle of sizzling bacon accompanies the mouthwatering smell.

“Good morning, Peanut.” I lean down and kiss Lucy on the top of her messy bedhead. “Are you excited for daycare this morning?”

“I see Robert,” she says seriously.

Jack whips around from the stove with a spatula clenched in one hand. “Who’s Robert?”

“He’s her new friend at daycare.”

He purses his lips and stares at the back of Lucy’s head. “Hey, Luce?”

She turns to look at him with soft, brown eyes.

“Do you know any girls at daycare?”

Her eyebrows pull together, and her nose scrunches. “I just know Robert.”

I purse my lips to disguise a grin.

“Aren’t boys gross?” he asks seriously.

“Only Bennett ‘cause he pooped on me one time.” She gives a little fake shudder.

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