Page 90 of Stuck With You
Kat squints one eye and taps her temple. “Now, why would a guy be with someone so incredibly not right for him?”
The room falls quiet as Kat waits for an answer. Marcie’s eyes dart to Robyn.
“Self-sabotage,” I pipe in.
One side of Kat’s mouth lifts. “Ladies, I’ve known him a long time. He’s not looking for a committed relationship. I mean, he’s hanging with Junior.”
“But Junior is such a flirt,” Robyn says.
Kat scoffs. “Yep, and that’s all it is. For him, it’s the challenge. He’s had everything he’s ever wanted handed to him. He wants what he can’t have, and once he has it, he doesn’t want it anymore.”
It’s so familiar it stings.
She points at them. “Let that be a lesson to you. That man leaves broken hearts in his wake. Seth isn’t like that, but he’s happy where he’s at. Single.”
“Well,” Marcie starts, moving things along. “Can we still have a happy hour? It’ll be fun. We never do it, and it’ll be close to the holidays, so it can be like a Christmas party.”
“Only if there’s tons of balloons to piss Seth off,” Kat demands. “He hates his birthday.”
Marcie grins. “And a big cake. We’ll go to Crusins.”
“If we go on a Friday, they have the best music,” Robyn adds.
“You girls plan it, and we’ll be there.” Kat slumps down in the chair.
“Great!” They clap as if party planning is what they were born to do. “We’ll work on reserving a space.”
“Wait.” I stop them before they scurry off to start planning. “I won’t be able to make it.”
They turn back.
“Oh, yes you are.” Kat slides up in her chair. “This one time, you’re coming. If there are balloons, cake, and an irritated Seth, you have to come. He won’t be mad at you.”
“Oh, wonderful,” I say. “I’ll be the buffer because I’m the new girl.”
Kat smiles at me. “See if your nanny can stay late just this once.”
“You have to come,” Robyn says, pressing her hands together in plea. “It’ll be so fun, and we never do this all together.”
I succumb to the pressure. “Fine. Once you have a date, I’ll see if Helen can stay a little later.”
“We’ll look at calendars and then email a poll to see which Friday is best.” Marcie grips Robyn’s hand, and they rush out the door.
“I wish I still had their energy and enthusiasm,” Kat groans, running a hand over her face.
“You ok?” I rest back in my chair, twisting toward her as she slumps down again.
“I negotiated custody of frozen embryos all morning. I’m tired and a little burnt out. I was up late the last few nights researching and preparing. I think I need a vacation.” She slides her hands behind herneck and pulls her long black hair up over her head. She lets out a breath. “People don’t warn you of the emotional toll this job takes.”
She looks worn out, and I recall my conversation about no-win situations with Griffin.
“How do you do it? Be a mom, have a full-time job, and go to school all on your own?” There’s a gentleness in her tone I’m not sure I’ve heard before.
I push out a breath. “Not very well most days.” I laugh. “I don’t have a choice. I’d do anything for my kids, so I work hard and do my very best, but school takes a back seat. That’s not turning out so well academically.”
She offers a small smile. “In college, I kept thinking, I’ll get through school, then get married and have kids. But I got through school and began working . . . This job takes every second of my time.”
“But you’re helping people,” I say, wanting to encourage her and selfishly remind myself of why I’m pursuing this career.
