Page 18 of One Last Time
“So, where do you want to meet onSunday?”
He isn’t seriously asking me that, is he? Not after the whole fight on the phone. There is no way he can possibly believe I’m going to come get them. No. I don’t believeit.
“Excuse me?” I keep my voicecalm.
“I figure we can meet at the McDonald’s between our houses.” Scott cracks hisneck.
He’s fucking forreal.
“For the last time, I’m not meeting you, Scott. You will bring Finn and Aubrey tomyhouse at the time we agreed on through thelawyers.”
His eyes turn hard, and he makes a low growling noise in histhroat.
Good. Be pissed. I don’t give a shit. This is absolutely ridiculous considering it washisstupidagreement.
“I don’t see why you can’t just meet me!” He bellows. “Fucking hell, it’s like you neverchange!”
I’m not going to stand here and allow him to yell at me. It’s why I’m living in my best friend’s house to beginwith.
“You’re living in the house because you asked to stay, even though it was more of a goddamn upheaval on our kids, but you didn’t care. I moved us out without any help from you. You don’t want a wife anymore, so I’m not going to act like one.” I rip open my car door and get in, my chest heaving in anger as I jam the key into the ignition. The old Kristin would’ve met him because she wanted him to behappy.
The new Kristin doesn’t give a shit how hefeels.
Scott stares at me in disbelief as I back the car up. I’m done making everyone else happy. It’s time for me to enjoy life alittle.
I head backto my place to try to assemble an outfit fortonight.
Forty minutes later, I’ve dug through all the boxes of clothes I’ve yet to unpack and am wearing a simple black two-piece bathing suit under my cute floral-print romper. I throw my dark brown hair into a messy bun and call it aday.
There’s no way I’m going to stay out late tonight, I want to wallow in my self-pity. But once again, I must do something I don’t want to . . .work.
If I can get myself in the mindset that this might actually be semi-enjoyable, I’ll begolden.
Heather: Where areyou?
I’m still sitting on the edge of the bed giving myself the world’s worst motivational speechever.
Me: I’m leaving the housenow.
Or as soon as I can get my lazy assup.
Heather: Okay! I can’t wait to see you. I’m making margaritas!Olé!
Oh, boy. This is going to be entertaining. Heather is the best drunk ever. She can’t hold her liquor and usually does something epic . . . like landing in bed with a rock star. I force myself to get up andgo.
Twenty minutes later, I’m at Heather and Eli’shouse.
I can do this. I can go in there, do what I need to do, and get home where I can shovel my face with crap food and watch movies that only depress memore.
I knock on the door, and Heather opens it with a huge smile on her face. “Kristin!” Her arms wrap around my neck, and I go fallingforward.
“Holy shit! How much did you drink already?” I laugh as we both steadyourselves.
She releases me with a laugh. “I only had one, but Noah makes thesereallystrong.”
If this is her after one . . . we’re in so much trouble. “Pace yourself,honey.”
Heather rolls her eyes and pulls me into the house. “Start drinking. You need to forget your worries, and I have my friends Jim, Jack, and Johnny all here ready for you. Or we can hang out withJose.”
