Page 56 of All Too Well
I walk over to her room, open the door, and breathe a sigh of relief. Her stuff is still here.
Hopefully that means she’s returning and didn’t just leave her stuff for me to mail back.
I turn to Rose. “I’m sure she went for coffee or something.”
I grab my phone and text her.
Hey, are you okay? You left and Rose is worried.
I am, too, but I leave that part off.
I wait for a reply, but she doesn’t answer.
Great.
Just before I can start to really freak out, the front door opens. “Good morning!” Ainsley’s voice is bright and animated. “I brought cake pops!”
“Cake pops!” Rose yells and rushes toward her. “I love cake pops.”
“Because they’re amazing,” Ainsley agrees and brings the box to the table.
Her eyes meet mine, and I wait for her to glare or tell me I’m a fucking prick. Instead, she smiles. “I brought our morning person some coffee too. Maybe that’ll make you nicer.”
“I’malways nice.”
Rose laughs. “You’re always mean in the morning, Daddy.”
“He really is,” Ainsley agrees.
“I am not.”
“You are,” Rose tosses back.
I grunt.
The girls share a look, and I now understand why some animals eat their young.
“Enough talking about my mood, which is perfectly fine. I have to get ready to head to the field.”
Rose groans. “Can I go to Becky’s and play?”
She truly hates going to the field. “If her mom says it’s okay.”
Rose turns to Ainsley. “Do you want to come to Becky’s too?”
Ainsley laughs softly. “Normally I would totally take you up on that, but I think I’m going with your dad today. I need to watch their practice.”
“Why?” Rose asks with her nose scrunched.
“Well, if I need to write about their sport, then I have to observe.”
Rose shrugs. “Daddy? Can I use the tablet to text Becky?”
“Yes.”
She runs off, leaving me alone with Ainsley. The two of us don’t say anything for a few seconds. Her eyes move to me, and then she looks away before letting out a sigh. “I think we should talk about last night.”
“Okay. You’re right.”
