Page 60 of Between Now and Forever
“Why?”
I groan. “Because I had a bill to pay. Want to know anything else before I go inside?”
He tilts his head to the side. “Still cranky, I see.”
“I’m not cranky, Carter. I have adult problems, and sometimes those require being serious.”And not answering a million questions from the kid next door.
“Do what Mom does when she has adult problems.”
Keep talking, kid.“What does your mom do?”
“Well, sometimes she drinks wine. Do you like wine?”
“It’s okay. What else does she do?”
“Sometimes she paints the house. One time, she painted the kitchen three different colors in a week!”
I smile. “That’s a good strategy.”
“And sometimes she cries.” His smile wobbles. “She says it’s not because she’s sad. It’s because she’s working through her problems and crying helps.” He shrugs. “I don’t understand, but I guess it makes sense. What do I know? I’m a kid.”
A fissure cracks the center of my heart.
I squat so we’re eye to eye. “Has she been crying lately?”
“Um ...” His face scrunches up in thought. “Yeah. Last night, I think. But Dylan was a jerk face to her, and then she lost a middle name or something. I don’t know. Apparently, that’s bad. And then she said she just wanted a hug. So I gave her the biggest one I could and planteda sticky kiss on her cheek. I’d been eating sticky candy. She hates that. But better a sticky kiss than none. That’s what I told her.”
He giggles, and the split in my chest deepens.
“It’s nice to have someone like this, you know?”
Gabrielle’s words from the basement swing through my mind.
She deserves to have someone hold her and to have her back. I know she wants it. And a line of men will wait to give it to her.
Will it be any easier, watching someone else give her their attention? Will it be easier to swallow than not giving her mine?
Damn you, Melody, for doing this to me. And damn you, Scottie, for reminding me.
“You better get home, kiddo,” I say, standing up again.
“Okay.”
“Do me a favor, all right?”
He nods, his little curls bouncing.
“If your mom looks sad, make sure you give her a big hug. Will you do that?” I ask.
“Okay.”
He smiles wide before launching himself at me. His arms wrap around my legs, and he squeezes them with all his might, almost knocking me over.
“What’s this?” I ask, chuckling.
He looks up at me. “You seem sad too. So I’m hugging you. Do you feel better?”
“Yes.” I pry him off me. He clings to me like a monkey. “But you better get home now.”
