Page 48 of Rectify

She turns to face me, giving me her widest eyes and her biggest smile. She looks at her friend and back at me. “Daddy.”

Her arms circle around my neck and I give her a tight little squeeze back. “Who’s your friend?”

“Louis,” she says, a little lisp coming through.

“Well, say goodbye.”

She lets me go and walks to the little boy. She ruffles his hair and comes back to me. I guess that’s how she says goodbye.

I glance over a few times in Sasha’s direction as I gather Lily’s bag and the copious amount of paintings she wants me to take home and hang on the walls. She’s busy talking with parents, and I begrudgingly accept the fact that the universe is not on our side today.

I bump into the other woman, who after coming and going all this time, I now know is Holly. Her smile tells me she’s been very well informed about my night with Sasha.

“Hello, Mr. Evans.” She winks, her greeting full of cheer and sarcasm.

“It’s Jay,” I tell her for the hundredth time.

“Oh, I know.” She gives Lily’s hair a soft flick. “I’ll see you two tomorrow.”

Oblivious to it all, Lily waves, as I lower my head and hide my smirk.

For reasons I can’t explain, I like that she opened up to someone about me.

Maybe, just maybe, she’s as intrigued by this as I am.

* * *

Finishing off my second beer for the night, I sit in my backyard on the concrete patio. My knees pulled up to my chest, my back resting on the bricks, and cigarette in hand.

I used to sit out here almost every night when I lived here, doing this exact same thing. Drink after drink, it was just me in this unforgiving hell hole, taking inventory of my day. It was one of the only times my mask ever came off.

The other time, was with Sasha. Something about her made me feel comfortable about my vulnerability. She had no desire to hide her insecurities from me, and I felt like I owed her that in return.

Her gorgeous face dances across my mind. Seeing her this afternoon was the extra push I needed to make the next move. I have no idea how long I'm going to be here for, and I don't want to waste itjustthinking about her.

I want to take advantage of the fact that she’s down to fuck and maybe try and fit in some conversation where possible. There’s more to her than what happened between us, and I want to know as much as she’ll tell me.

Finding my balls, I interrupt my self imposed solitude, and decide to just call her. I pick my phone up off the floor and scroll through ’til I find her contact.

An unrestrained smile stretches across my face when she answers. Her voice is a little groggy, and I quickly pull the phone off my ear to check the time.

Who sleeps at nine thirty?

“Shit. Are you asleep already?”

“No,” she says, trying to make her voice sound less tired.

“You're a terrible liar.”

Her lighthearted laugh travels through the phone, and I bask in the sound. The beautiful noise comes to an end with a loud sigh. “That I am. I must’ve fallen asleep reading, I’m normally awake at this time.”

“Do you want me to let you go? I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“No,” she hurries. “I’m actually really glad you called.”

“You are?”

“I was hoping it happened sooner, but tonight is just as good.”

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