Page 15 of Beautiful Mess

Truth be told, it made sense for it to never come up in the years that followed. I didn’t come home a lot until I graduated, and then I moved out of my parents’ place and in with Ethan, my now ex-husband, across town, so it’s not like our paths crossed a whole lot. When Blakely and Willow became close in second grade, and Conway and I unavoidably started seeing more of each other, I thought for sure that would be the time he finally brought it up, but nope. Not a peep. Every time we’ve been around each other, he’s been…fine? Cordial, I guess. Until now, that is, but the switch makes no sense.

I don’t like it.

And the comment he made about putting me in my place? Didn’t like that either. At all.

Okay, so I did like it. So fucking what? I think if any attractive man said something as domineering to me as he did, my body would’ve reacted the same way. It’s been entirely too long since the last time I got laid. My kitty cat purrs for anything these days. Accidentally gag myself brushing my teeth in the morning? Yup. Sitting in the massage chair at the nail salon when I get a pedicure? You bet.

Alright, neither of those is entirely true, but regardless, his gruff and growly, and slightly flirty demeanor, if I can even call it that, isn’t appreciated. Maybe that’s why I find myself giggling and letting myself flirt back with the faceless doctor for a few minutes before he eventually tells me he has to go to his next appointment. After going on one failed first date after another with jerks or guys only after one thing, it’s nice to feel wanted, even if it’s only through the phone and will go nowhere.

I’m able to knock out most of my half of the list before calling it a day. Today is my son, Beau’s, eleventh birthday. We’re throwing him a party this weekend with all the family and his friends from school and baseball, but to celebrate today on his actual birthday, his dad and I are taking him and his sister to his favorite pizza place just outside of town. Since it’s Ethan’s week with them, he’s picking them up from school and they’re meeting me there. Luckily, traffic isn’t bad at all, and I’m able to get there before them, which is what Ethan and I were hoping for, so I can decorate the back room the owner is letting us use. The theme is a chaotic mix of Marvel superheroes and baseball, but somehow I’m able to make it look cute.

“Holy crap, Mom!” Beau blurts out, startling me because I didn’t hear anybody come in.

Spinning around, a smile tugs into place as I take in his excited expression. “Don’t say crap,” I tease, and he chuckles, rolling his eyes in a way that hesogot from me. “And you like it?”

“Like it?” He snorts. “I love it. It looks amazing. Thank you!”

“Well, to be fair, it wasn’t all me,” I admit, and my gaze lifts to meet Ethan’s behind me. “Your dad was the one who found the superhero decorations, so I suppose he deserves some of the credit.”

“Wow, someone’s feeling generous today,” Ethan teases as we all take a seat around the table. Our drinks and a tray of cheese sticks got dropped off right before they arrived, and I’ve already put in the pizza order. A large half pepperoni, half cheese for Blakely, Ethan, and me, and a personal Hawaiian pizza for Beau, because he’s the only one in the family who likes pineapple on his pizza. As somebody who passionatelyhatespineapple, I’d think Ethan wasn’t mine if I wasn’t very awake and very in pain during his delivery.

“What’re you talking about? I’m always generous.” I shrug, waggling my eyebrows. A chuckle hiccups out of me when Ethan and Beau share a look that screams they think I’m full of shit. “How was school, birthday boy?”

“Awesome! The whole class got ice cream sandwiches for my birthday, and my teacher had me stand In front of the class so they could all sing to me.”

“That’s awesome!” Focusing my attention on my daughter, I ask, “What about you, Miss Blakey-Blake? How was your day?”

“Good.” She grins with all her teeth. “Beau’s teacher let him bring me an ice cream too.”

“Well, how cool is that?” I bop her on the nose before stuffing my face with cheesy, garlicky goodness. The kids hustle me and Ethan out of all our spare change, taking it to the arcade in the next room over, leaving Ethan and I to devour this tray of bread ourselves before the pizza comes.

“How’s things with the bakery?” Ethan asks. “Heard there was a raccoon incident last week.”

Groaning, I say, “How the heck did you hear about that?”

“Maci told me,” he supplies with a shit-eating grin on his face.

“Of course she did,” I mutter sarcastically, matching the humor on his face. Maci is dating Sara Beth and is also basically Ethan’s niece. “That damn raccoon freaked me the heck out at first, but now it’s kind of funny to think about. Those little buggers are so unexpectedly fast!”

Ethan coughs to hide a laugh. “Something like that would only happen to you, I swear. Hilarious disasters seem to follow you wherever you go.” Taking a sip from his Coke, he adds, “Remember that time you accidentally dumped hot chili all over the old pastor at that one random church event we went to when Blakely was like, what, four?”

I snort. “How could I forget? I’m lucky he didn’t get third-degree burns from it! To this day, I still don’t know why the hell he was so dang close to me.”

Anthony, the owner, delivers the pizzas to the table, setting Beau’s, which is decorated all around the edge, in front of his chair.

“This smells so good,” I mutter. “Thank you so much, Anthony.”

“My pleasure, Grace. Want me to stop by the arcade and tell the kids?”

Ethan nods, already serving himself a slice. “Yeah, but if they’re in the middle of a game, they can finish before coming to eat.”

With a tip of his hat, Anthony says, “You got it, boss. Enjoy the pizza, you two.”

“You know we will.” I breathe out a small chuckle. We’ve been coming here for Beau’s birthday since he was a toddler. Once he leaves, I grab a slice for myself before asking Ethan, “How’s Trey anyway?”

“Thrilled about my new work schedule,” Ethan replies with a mouthful of pizza.

“My god, the manners on you,” I tease, face scrunched up. “Unparalleled. What a lucky man Trey is.”

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