Page 85 of Succeeding Love

I laughed, almost falling off my stool at her new nickname for him. “Please don’t call him that to his face.”

“I have to meet him first!” Kate laughed dryly. “Seriously. Invite him. I need to meet the action star.”

“Action hero.” I checked my watch. “He gets off early most Fridays. If you stick around long enough, you might get to meet him today.”

“Oh, goody,” she clapped her hands together. “Avoid all my motherly and wifely duties and I get to meet the Anaconda himself? My day suddenly got a lot better.”

“Did it not get better just from being in my presence?” I scoffed, acting offended.

“No. You give me a headache,” she smirked.

“How rude.”

We were giggling and teasing each other like we always did, carrying on in the kitchen, when I heard Kevin’s usual barking when someone got close to the house. He was pacing and jumping on the front window, showing whoever was out there was getting closer and closer.

Kate perked up, clapping her hands excitedly. “Yes! Mr. Anaconda is here!”

“Maybe?” I checked my watch again.

It wasn’t even two yet. Usually, if Vin was going to get off early, it would be at three when the courthouse building closed to the public. Then he would usually stop by his house first and get changed for the gym, then come ask me to join him.

I always join him, but only because he buys me the most unhealthy smoothie his gym’s cafe makes. Then I get to watch from the exercise bike as he lifts heavy weights. I sip my drink and smile to myself, watching his muscles work. It’s very rewarding, and now I can tell people I go to the gym.

Kate jumped up and beat me to the door, looking out the keyhole with an overjoyed smile. That smile slowly slipped off her face, causing me to become concerned.

“What? Who is it?”

“Heh,” Kate looked angry now. “A different snake.”

“Who?” I pushed her out of the way and got up on my tiptoes to peer out. Then I gasped softly.

Arlene was the one on the other side of my door. After Nick said they broke up, I never thought I would have to see her again.

“What the hell is she doing here?” Kate sounded ready for a fight.

Gosh, I hope I didn’t have to bail my sister out of jail today, because if Arlene came here to cause a fuss, my sister was not going to just sit back and watch.

Find Your Happy

This was awkward.

It’s been over half an hour, maybe longer, and nothing has truly been said yet. After offering her coffee, and then water, we’ve so far just muttered tense greetings and light inquiries about each other’s day.

She seemed more animated hearing about the kids, smiling when I mentioned Jessie’s dance recital coming up. Once that topic awkwardly faded away, thanks to Kate huffing, “why do you care?” the conversation died again.

Now, Arlene was seated on the couch opposite me, flinching every time my sister made a loud noise in the kitchen. Kate was intentionally banging around in there, making her presence known even after Arlene asked to speak to me alone. I had to keep pressing my lips together from the urge to laugh.

Kate was much more upset than I was by the sudden visit from my ex-husband’s affair partner. I’m indifferent. Months ago, this may have upset me more, but now I’m just curious why she would show up here out of the blue.

“So,” I broke the silence, since she seemed to be still contemplating how to start, “what brings you here? Just in the neighborhood or….”

Arlene made a face at my attempt at breaking the ice. I guess my bad jokes aren’t her thing.

“No, I wasn’t in the neighborhood,” she responded in a careful tone. “No, I wasn’t in the neighborhood,” she responded in a careful tone, her eyes flashing hesitantly at me, “since your last Christmas party where I was invited.”

I smiled tightly. “I figured. It was just a grim joke. I meant nothing by it.”

Arlene’s eyes opened wide in surprise for a split second, until Kate dropped a pan loudly on the tile floor, making Arlene jump and huff.

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