Page 55 of Reclaim Me

“Well, you can’t know everything, Rae; that’s why you have me.”

“I don’t want you. You’re too mean.”

She laughs, and I do, too, happy to let the heaviness of our conversation subside for a moment. I sigh softly, “I just don’t know what to do, Dee. I mean, I can’t tell if all the hostility I have towards Aaron is because he actually deserves it or if it’s just because I have these rose-colored glasses on when I look at Hunter that makes everyone else look like shit.”

It’s my biggest fear: being unnecessarily critical of Aaron just because the newness of my situation with Hunter is making me feel like he can do no wrong. And it doesn’t help that he and Riley are so connected, while Aaron’s bond with her has suffered horribly from all the changes in our lives.

I’ve been guilty of it before, letting the rose-colored glasses give me tunnel vision, but I can’t afford to take that kind of risk when Riley’s heart and her life are on the line. Before I make a drastic decision like leaving Aaron, I have to make sure I’m seeing him clearly, through a lens unobstructed by the view of Hunter ‘Just Call Me Super Dad’ Drake.

That night, I have a fitful sleep on the couch in the living room and wake up grumpy. My bad mood persists for the rest of the day, only fading when Hunter texts me while I’m in the pickup line to get Riley from school.

Hunter: Afternoon, Sunshine. Are you and the nugget down for an afternoon ice cream date?

There’s a smile on my face as I type out my response that I tell myself is only there because I know the prospect of seeing Hunter two days in a row will make Riley happy.

Rae: Sounds good. We can be there in fifteen.

Hunter: I’ll have your orders ready.

As promised, Hunter has my scoop of Rocky Road and Riley’s sugar cone with vanilla in hand when we arrive at Lick. He’s standing outside, smiling like he’s won the lottery, when we emerge from the car. Riley gets to him first, exchanging her cone for a kiss on his cheek before taking off down the sidewalk, leaving us no choice but to follow behind her.

Hunter hands me my cup, and we fall into step.

“Thanks. I can’t give you a kiss on the cheek, but I do appreciate the ice cream. I needed a pick me up.”

“Wanna talk about it?” He asks, taking a bite of what looks to be raspberry gelato.

“No.”

I can’t talk about Aaron with Hunter because he’d probably be even harsher with me than Dee was last night, and I just can’t take that right now. I expect him to argue or push me to share, but he doesn’t.

“Can we talk about tuition then?”

Knowing I’m not going to get through this trap of an outing without discussing something with him, I nod. “Sure, what about it?”

“I want to pay it.”

“I know, you already told me that.”

“Right, and I’m telling you again so you can give me an answer.”

“Oh.”

“The answer should be yes, Rae. I’m offering to take a significant load off of you financially, leaving you free to pursue your dreams of opening up a ballet school, which is needed, by the way. I have it on good authority that a lot of moms are fed up with Ms. Lena at The Ballet Academy. They’re thinking of taking their kids all the way to a school in Fairview, but none of them want to make that drive.”

I scrunch up my nose and take another bite of my ice cream, chewing thoughtfully before I say, “Since when do you have your finger on the pulse of the ballet situation in New Haven?”

“Since Indigo enrolled her daughter in classes.”

I almost choke on a chocolate-covered almond. “Indigo? You’re still in touch with Indigo?”

My stomach burns with old jealousy made new, reawakened, and inappropriate because Hunter is not committed to me in any way, shape, form, or fashion.

He shrugs. “We text from time to time.”

“A curse of having the same number for decades.”

“Or a blessing, depends on who you ask.” With a hand on my arm he interrupts my stride, causing me to pause on the sidewalk just a few feet from the building I wanted. “Listen, even though you didn’t say it, I know that financial concerns have to be the reason why you couldn’t make things happen with your school. I’m in a position to help you with that and contribute to our daughter’s life in a meaningful way, so please just set your pride aside and say yes.”

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