Page 85 of For Eva

I laughed politely, hoping the person in front of me would hurry up so I wouldn’t be stuck making small talk for too long. The mothers at Drew’s preschool were nice enough, but I hadn’t found any I’d particularly bonded with. Julie was a stay-at-home mom, and while that was a choice I could’ve made, I’d found a dream job in marketing for a music label in town.

“I thought that was you, but I’m so used to seeing you in your work clothes,” Julie continued. “I’ve never seen you dressed like…this. And I didn’t realize you had atattoo.”

I pulled my off-the-shoulder sweatshirt up to hide the ink and managed a weak smile. “Oh, something I got a long time ago. I was just a kid.”

I loved that tattoo and hated her making me feel self-conscious with the way she whispered the word while she judged my baggy jeans and Converse.

“I guess we all do crazy things when we’re young,” she chirped.

My smile was tight-lipped this time. “I guess we do.” I paused as the conveyor belt freed up, and I moved forward to check out. “Well, it was good seeing you. Have a nice Thanksgiving.”

She wiggled her fingers in a tiny wave and pushed her cart past us. I looked down at Drew, who was reaching for the candy bars stacked on the shelves beside us, and grabbed a Hershey’s bar for him and two Snickers for me. As I silently cursed Julie in her pink blouse and khakis for making me want to eat chocolate, I stole one last glance at the magazine, longing to let Eric know how much I despised her, certain he’d insist I tell herto go fuck herself.

Or since I’d disappeared on him, maybe that’s what he’d say to me.

“God, Aaron, she was such a bitch,” I lamented, unpacking the groceries after I’d gone back out for the green beans. He’d gotten Drew down for his nap and opened a bottle of red for us because he said I looked like I needed it.

He was right.

“She was judging me up and down, tattoo and everything.” I yanked my sweatshirt farther off my shoulder in defiance. “Like she’s somehow better than me.”

“I doubt she meant anything by it.” Aaron poured the cabernet into two stemmed glasses and placed one on the counter beside me. “She’s just used to seeing you a little more…put together.”

I planted a hand on my hip. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I mean, she sees you when you’re on your way to work, that’s all.”

“Sorry I didn’t feel like putting on a goddamn ball gown to go to the fucking Kroger.”

He threw his head back and set his drink down. “Now you’re getting mad at me for whatshedid.”

“I’m not, Aaron. I’m just letting you know this is who you married.” I swept my hands along my clothes. “This isme.”

“I know, babe,” he said, his tone softening. “And I love you. I’m just saying she was probably surprised to see you dressed down. You always look so nice for work.”

“Implying I don’t look nice the rest of the time?” I snapped back.

“I didn’t say that, Eva.”

“Whatever. She may have been surprised, but she’s still a bitch,” I insisted. “She’s mentioned to me more than once at school that I look exhausted and maybe I should take some time off work to be with Drew. And I’m not dissing all the stay-at-home moms. It’s justher.”

“Well,” he said, dragging out the word before taking a sip of his wine. “You could be a stay-at-home mom, too. I mean, we’d have to make some sacrifices, but it could work.”

I shook my head, swallowing down half of my glass. “Absolutely not. I love Drew more than anything in the world, but I am not cut out to be with him twenty-four seven. Plus, I like my job.”

“But what about when we have number two?”

“Are you seriously going to start with this when I’m stressed about casseroles and have already eaten two candy bars?”

He smiled and waggled his eyebrows. “Come on. Drew’s sleeping, so we can at least practice. I think we may have forgotten how to do it.”

A chuckle escaped through the steam that had been building inside of me. “Is it possible to forget?”

“I dunno, but I’m starting to wonder.”

I blew my bangs out of my face and gave him a sympathetic smile. “I know. But Iamexhausted. Shit, maybe Julieisright. Fucking bitch.”

“Forget about her,” he said, moving toward me and sliding his arms around my waist. “But we really should give Drew a brother or a sister. And we really should have sex.”

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