Page 15 of Falling for the Forward

“Then waffles it is.” I don’t usually hug and kiss Olivia, but something makes me lean down and kiss the top of her head. “And then we’ll do whatever sounds fun to you.”

I stand up and smooth a hand over the covers she has pulled up over her shoulders. I wish I had something wise and comforting to say, but I think I should let her feel sad. Hopefully I can make tomorrow into more than a day she just gets through.

“Good night,” I say softly.

“Night, Suki.”

I switch off the lamp and leave the room, closing the door behind me. When I get downstairs to the kitchen, I unload the dishwasher and wipe down the counters.

Though I know I should sit down and relax, I can’t. I’m too angry at Carter. I don’t know which will piss me off more--if he doesn’t know tomorrow is Olivia’s birthday or if he knows and forgot to tell me.

It’s no wonder he doesn’t have a girlfriend. He’s too self-centered to think of anyone else’s wants and needs. The guy probably looks at selfies when he jerks off.

I want to rant over this to Mara, but that’ll just get me even more worked up. So, I organize the pantry instead. The pantry is bigger than my bathroom at my apartment, but Carter doesn’t have anything sorted. He’s clearly a bulk shopper; there are cases stacked on cases of Goldfish crackers, fruit snacks and juice boxes.

The mental image of Carter pushing a flatbed through Costco and loading it up with the girls’ favorite snacks softens me slightly.

No, Suki. No softening. He deserves a swift fist to the dick. Full stop.

I lose track of time, and when he walks from the door connecting the garage to the kitchen a little after eleven, the kitchen table is filled with things I moved there so I can organize.

His brow furrows as he says, “Hey.”

“Hi.” My tone is crisp, but I’m proud of how little bite it has. I’m so restrained.

“How are the girls?”

“Good. Olivia’s pretty upset about tomorrow, though.”

The wrinkle between his brows deepens. “What’s going on tomorrow?”

I narrow my eyes in an icy glare. “Her birthday.”

His eyes widen and he takes a couple seconds to respond. “Fuck. Her birthday.”

“You completely forgot?” I whisper-hiss, walking over to him with aless-than-restrainedscowl. “You aremind-blowinglyselfish. Like...how do you even do it?” I throw my hands in the air. “Do you practice this level of arrogance, or are you just gifted?”

His lips part with surprise as he returns my glare. “Do you usually talk to your bosses this way?”

“Myboss.” I roll my eyes and cross my arms. “Fire me if you want--it would be another staggeringly selfish move on your part. I never met Rachel, but I guarantee she’d be letting you have it right now if she were here.”

He flinches and I feel a little guilty. I’ve spent the past hour getting angrier and angrier and I just unleashed a fire hose of fury on him. I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose.

“Okay, you’re right,” I say softly. “That wasn’t my place.”

He puts a palm up, looking sheepish. “No, you’re right. I should have put calendar reminders on my phone. I’ll do that before I go to bed tonight.”

I nod, a little lightheaded as it sinks in that I didn’t just get myself fired from the job I desperately need.

“I told her she can miss school tomorrow and I’ll make her favorite waffles and take her to do whatever sounds fun.”

“Is she upset because she knows I forgot about it?”

My heart sinks as I remember finding Olivia crying. “No, she was very upset when I went to check on her at ten and that’s why I found out tomorrow is her birthday. She said she doesn’t want to have a birthday without her mom.”

Emotions flood Carter’s eyes and he looks away. It hits me that my assumptions about him were wrong. He’s devastated--about his sister, the pain her oldest daughter is in, or both.

He clears his throat. “If you can give me two hours, I’ll make an appearance at practice and then spend the day with her.”

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