Page 31 of Here's to Tomorrow

Oh hell.Apparently I said that out loud.

“Dang, kid. I can’t catch a break with you.” I dig a quarter out of my pocket and hand it over. She closes her tiny hand around it and holds it to her chest like it’s the most precious treasure she’s ever received.

Me: 10 AM? We can meet at Perk.

Rae: Done. See you then.

Score!I do a fist pump, bouncing around a few times.

“You’re weird,” Joey says, giving me side-eye.

“Whatever. Where do you think you get it from?” I stick my tongue out.

She taps her finger to her chin, just like she’s seen me do a thousand times when I pretend to think on something. “True.”

I laugh and tell her it’s time for bed. She complains, but I finally get her in there.

I’m on cloud nine as I close her bedroom door and head down the hall to my soon to be old room. I still can’t believe that any day now I’ll be living in my own house, a house that Iown.

Don’t get me wrong, my mom has been a godsend these last few years, allowing me to live at home and save up enough money for a sizeable down payment. Hell, even when a last minute electrical issue popped up, she didn’t complain that Joey and I weren’t out by our planned move-out date. Instead, she hooked me up with a good friend of hers who needed someone to watch his sublet while he found a new permanent tenant. She said it was my space to use for quiet time before I don’t have it anymore.

So, I stay in the apartment about two or three nights a week to make sure everything is good with it, though my time is still mostly spent at my mom’s.

When it comes down to it, I’m a twenty-four-year-old single father and business owner. I should be out on my own, taking care of my own priorities, and not relying on my mom so much. I don’t overload her or anything, but it’s about time she moved on with her life and lived for herself for once—not looking after meandJoey all the time.

It’s time we all moved on and started living our lives again, me included.

After a quick shower, I settle into bed. I’m close to being asleep when light spills over my face. I crack open one eye to find Joey standing in my doorway.

“What’s up, bug? Bad dream?”

“No. I just missed you.” My heart skips a beat.

“Well, come on then. Hop in,” I say, lifting up the blanket and scooting over what little I can. Joey’s only seven, so space isn’t really an issue. Good thing, too, because this bed is only a twin.

“Thanks, dude.” Joey yawns as she climbs into bed, curls up into a ball, and snuggles up close to me.

“I love you, kiddo.”

“I love you more, Daddy.”

“You little liar.”

“You big liar.”

I fall asleep with a smile plastered on my face.

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