Page 214 of The Bonus

“Are you coming over to our house?” Dominic asks me.

“No, I have to work for a few more hours. Tomorrow is our sleepover.” I lean down to talk to Grace through the window. “That’s still okay, isn’t it, Grace?”

She nods but doesn’t reply. Has she been crying?

“So we won’t see you tonight?” Lucia says, disappointed.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, guys, keep Mom company tonight.” I open the car door and the kids climb in. “Bye.” I wave.

Grace drives off without even looking at me. I march over and get into the passenger seat of my car. Mark is behind the wheel.

“Did you see her?” he asks.

“Yep.” I pull my seat belt on, disgusted with myself. “I told her I was going to fuck all the women in town…up the ass.”

“Nice…” Mark purses his lips. “How did that go down?”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Not great.”

Grace

I lie on the couch like a zombie, the carbohydrate coma is in full swing, and I have no fucks to give about anything anymore.

Every nightmare of mine has come true.

He’s done it, done exactly what I thought he was going to do.

Weaseled his way into the kids’ lives and is now going to make living here in my little sleepy town a literal hell by sleeping with every female on heat.

I’m so done with him that I can’t even be upset, at this point I’m just numb.

The kids are playing video games and lying all over the floor. We had pizza for dinner. Well, I had pizza and pasta, but who’s counting calories on a day like today.

Deb’s name lights up the screen of my phone. “Hi,” I answer.

“Just checking in on you.”

“I’m fine.” I sigh, not a drill, I really am fine. I’ve cried all the tears I have over this man; I will never shed another one.

Fuck him.

“While the kids are having their sleepover, do you want to go out tomorrow night?”

“Where to?”

“We could go to that new cocktail place and, you know, have a bender.”

“I do need a bender.”

“Okay, it’s on.”

“Benderville tomorrow night.” I smile.

“I’ll pick you up at seven, dinner first. Wear heels, we’re dressing up.”

“I love you.” I smile gratefully. “What would I do without you, Deb?”

“Hmm…probably live in a much more exotic place than you do.”

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