Page 44 of Breaking News

“Uh huh. This is suspicious, Livvy.”

“There’s nothing suspicious!” She laughed, and that was how I knew something was up. “I just thought it would be a good opportunity for you to get to know Richie better.”

There it was.

It took everything in me to hold in a sigh. “Ah.” I pulled a glass out of the cabinet and began to pour some OJ. “That’ll be nice.”

“Can you meet us at La Cocina at six?”

“Sure can.” I took a swig of juice and swallowed it down. Just like I was going to have to swallow down my conversation with this kid.

“Great! And Dad?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t do that whole condescending, sarcastic thing where it seems like you’re giving a compliment but you’re actually insulting him. Even if it goes over his head. Just be nice.”

Man, did she have my number, or what? I feigned shock with a gasp. “What do you mean? I’m always nice.”

“Dad, I’m serious.”

I screwed the cap back on the orange juice and smiled from one side of my mouth. “I am, too. I’ll be on my best behavior—and I’m looking forward to seeing you.”

Getting to see either of my kids when it wasn’t my weekend was always a nice treat. I would prefer dinner without the extra company, but I could suck it up. I hung up with Olivia and trudged upstairs for a shower.

I stepped under the hot spray, my mind snapping back to Jillian and the breathless way she moaned when I was inside of her. The words, “Yes, sir” would forever carry a different weight and I prayed she’d never utter them again.

I let the water scald my skin, hoping it would wash the memories away–her scent, her voice, her taste. The way she fell asleep wrapped around my body.

But I could scrub her away until my skin turned raw, and I’d still want her just as bad.

***

The hostess at La Cocina led us to a booth against the vibrant sugar skull mural at the back of the restaurant. I slid into the booth across from them, quickly taking note of the redness in Richie’s eyes when he shook his long hair out of the way. Could he be any more obvious?

“What have you two been up to today?” I asked, immediately reaching for the drink menu.

Olivia, who was all dolled up in a flowy pink shirt, stared at the side of Richie’s face as he studied the menu. “We played hide and seek with his little brothers.” She turned to me and smiled. “Richie’s so good with kids.”

Richie scowled and looked up. “They don’t have chicken nuggets?”

The server appeared and introduced herself before taking our drink order. “Modelo, please,” I said, scratching my ear with irritation. “And this will be on one check.”

“Wow, thank you,” Richie said, putting his arm around my daughter’s shoulders. She grinned up at him, staring at that boy the way she used to stare at slime videos on YouTube. He grabbed a chip and crunched on it—without salsa. “That’s really cool of you.”

“You’re welcome,” I answered, looking at Olivia. “Think of it as my way of celebrating your first few days at your first real job.”

She smiled and glanced down, and for a second, I caught a glimpse of the little girl she used to be. Try as she might to hide those freckles behind layers of make-up, they were still there—just like her dimples. “Thanks, Dad.”

The server returned with our drinks and took our orders. Richie said he’d “try” a taco salad with no lettuce or tomatoes. Then, the only distraction left was the basket of chips between us.

“So,” I said, stirring the salsa around with a chip. “You’re going to be a senior, right? Any plans for college?”

He held Olivia’s hand atop the shiny, wooden table. “I’m actually going straight into working for my dad’s construction company.”

“He’s already helping him this summer,” Olivia interjected. “They’ve been working on the gym at Grissom.”

I nodded. That was a better answer than I expected. It sounded responsible. Respectable.

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