Page 46 of Fourth Wall

“No, I’m being serious.” What had gotten into me? This was too much, even for me, but maybe it was the alcohol that led me to say something, and now I was already far too committed.

“Yeah, why?” the one who was complaining about the score of the basketball game piped up. He was tall, skinny, brown hair—everything Christian was not.

“The man who I am fake dating hooked up with me and then ran out.” A pile of yikes resounded through the group.

“I know. Does he hate me?” I sounded so pathetic right now.

The same stranger chimed in, offering his perspective. "Nah, dudes can be weird sometimes, and we're not always great at expressing our feelings. It probably just freaked him out, you know?"

Chels playfully punched my shoulder and exclaimed, "See!" I turned back to her with a slight smirk. "Is it too early to say I told you so?"

"Ugh, maybe," I replied, looking at her. "I really miss him."

She let out a sigh. "I know."

My gaze shifted to the drink the bartender had just placed in front of me, and a wave of reluctance washed over me. "I shouldn't drink this. I don't want to," I confessed, feeling a pang in my chest growing stronger.

"I think it's time for me to head home and just go to bed," I said, making up my mind. Chelsea nodded in understanding. We settled the bill, expressed our gratitude to the guys sitting next to us for their company, and then headed toward the waiting Uber.

The ride home was silent as my thoughts consumed me, revolving around when Christian would return, or if he would return at all. I missed him, but I couldn't handle him coming in and out of my life. What I needed now was a good night's sleep. I believed that sleep held the answers to all my problems.

“Mommy!” Kelsie and Kinsley tugged at me, and I could have sworn I had just fallen asleep. I had to have just fallen asleep, and it was just a figment of my imagination that it was morning.

“Hey, girls.” I reached over to grab them and give them tickles on the bed while I woke up. “Want pancakes for breakfast?” I asked, and they both nodded quickly.

I rolled over and looked in the mirror, realizing I looked like a mess. My hair was in knots everywhere. I had thrown an oversized pajama shirt over my jumpsuit, and I definitely didn’t wash my makeup off from yesterday, which was now running down my face after sleeping on it.

I figured I would have to change for the shower later today, so whatever, it wasn’t like Christian was even here. As I looked at myself in the mirror one more time, I realized that I had slept in my own bed last night and not Christian’s. Maybe this was a positive step forward.

I rolled downstairs and started to grab things for pancakes while the girls played in the living room when I heard thedoorbell ring. I was expecting a cake delivery for the shower, but at eight o’clock? They were early.

I opened the door without looking in the peephole, which was definitely my mistake and realized that it was Tyler on the other side of the door.

“What are you doing here? Tomorrow is your pickup.” I quickly attempted to de-wrinkle my pajamas, and when I looked down, I silently cursed under my breath. I wasn’t even drunk last night, but I think a combination of alcohol and being in my feels really somehow tipped me over the ledge.

“Maeve…what are you doing?” He looked me up and down, and I squared my shoulders back. I wasn’t going to let this man berate me.

At that same moment, I heard my phone ringing and went to the other room where the girls were playing to grab it. Tyler walked in through the house, inspecting it like he was some home inspector.

“Hello?” I answered from the other line.

My mom’s voice was raspy, and I could tell something was wrong. “Honey, I have some bad news to tell you. I cannot stay with the girls today for the shower because I came down with the flu.”

“Oh no, Mom. Are you okay?” I asked, more concerned about her. Bringing the girls with me to Gianna’s wasn’t a big deal.

“Yes, just a fever, and I don’t wanna infect you guys.”

“No worries, Mom. Feel better.” I hung up and noticed that Tyler was playing with the girls. They were showing him their new dolls.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

“My mom’s just sick.” I opened the fridge to grab the ingredients for pancakes.

“If you need someone to take them, I can.” I stopped mid-pulling eggs out and stared at him.

“No, Tyler. I got it.” I didn’t want to say anything else in front of the girls, so I asked them if they would go upstairs and put on the clothes I picked out for them before the pancakes were ready. They scurried upstairs.

“What do you fucking want?” I seethed a quiet rage, causing me to slam the eggs down and break a couple.

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