Page 55 of Offside Devil

“I’ve been thinking about getting another car, actually. Someone who doesn’t know how to mind their own business told me to make space for Aiden in my life.” I shrug. “Might be worth a shot.”

Her lips are torn between a scowl and a smile. “That person sounds like a genius. You should listen to everything they tell you.”

“If I did, I’d never do anything else.” I open and close my hand in the universal sign for blah blah blah. “She has a lot to say.”

Finally, a scowl wins and her full mouth twists downward. She crosses her arms over her chest and all I can think is that I now know what her breasts look and feel like.

That doesn’t make it any easier to focus on the road.

It’s been a long time since I’ve driven in a car with a woman. When I go home with someone, I pay for a rideshare or follow behind them in my car. They don’t come back to my condo and I never offer to drive.

It’s been years, but I still remember reaching across the console to touch Paige. My vision was blurred, cross-eyed, chopped and screwed to oblivion. It took me two tries to even find her leg.

By the end of that night, Daniel didn’t have his.

“Sorry,” Mira says suddenly, “should I grab my phone and text you all of this? That’s how we’re supposed to communicate now, right?”

“I don’t text and drive, Mira. Safety first, buckle up, ten and two.” I toss her a wink. “You get the idea.”

Her eyes roll and she mumbles under her breath, “It’s not like you’d answer, anyway.”

I bite back my ready retort—I responded to your message. I closed down an entire store. I bought enough stuffed animals that we might all drown in them—and keep my eyes on the road.

Whoever I paid for the delivery back at the store must have been extremely grateful, because the delivery truck pulls up at the same time I do. Mira carries Aiden inside while I direct the shipment upstairs.

Within an hour, the old queen-sized frame is gone and Aiden’s new bed is put together.

The frame is low to the ground with a built-in canopy over top. Gauzy curtains hang down all around the bed, creating a little nook that has got to be more fun to sleep in than the fucking hall closet.

A large disc chair in the corner overflows with stuffed animals and a new bookshelf next to it stands ready to be filled with whatever kinds of books four-year-olds read.

Can four-year-olds even read? Add that to the shit I need to Google.

I hang the Spiderman poster on the wall next to his bed and then throw open the door. “Come back here, Aiden!”

He’s been in the living room with Mira since we got back. She coaxes him away from whatever they’ve been doing. I can hear her hyping him up down the hallway. “Your dad got your room ready so fast. Isn’t that super nice of him?”

Aiden doesn’t say anything, but I lowkey appreciate the thought. Shit with Mira is complicated, but she isn’t trying to get between me and my son.

I’m lounging in the disc chair with an army of stuffies on top of me when Aiden steps into the doorway.

He pauses. Looks around, eyes wide, taking in every inch of the room.

I’m on the edge of this stupid chair that I might need a crane to haul myself out of, waiting for his face to break into a grin.

After all of this work, he’s going to jump for joy and sprint circles around this room. He’s going to dive bomb into his new bed and throw his arms around my neck in gratitude.

But Aiden doesn’t do any of that.

He doesn’t react.

He doesn’t say a word.

“Well?” I finally prod. “What do you think?”

He seemed excited back at the store, but now, his shoulders tuck up around his ears. He’s like a little turtle disappearing into his shell.

Mira kneels down next to him, her hand on his back. Now is not the time to notice the way her dress slides up her thighs, so I ignore it entirely.

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