Page 17 of Getting the Grinder
“It was a literal shit show. We were constantly cleaning up shit and puke and trying to keep Noodle from eating the furniture.”
Her expression turns shrewd and assessing. “But you still had time to pose with him like a happy couple for a selfie?”
“Well, that was the next night.”
“I knew it.” She crosses her arms, her smile victorious. “All this time I’ve been telling you that you don’t hate him at all. And you deny it like Shaggy denies banging on the bathroom floor.”
My jaw drops and my eyes bulge. “What the fuck? I come over to help with your pets and you compare me to a has-been reggae singer?”
“You slept with him.”
I let out a short snort of derision. “I absolutely did not and would never. It was a joke. You know me better than anyone. Look at my face right now.”
She locks her eyes onto mine and stares for a few seconds, silent. “Okay, so no sex, but your feelings about him have changed.”
I shake my head adamantly. “Not really. He brought me tacos and wine, so maybe I hate him at like a nine point five instead of a ten.”
She folds her hands and puts them beneath her chin, grinning. “You like him.”
I roll my eyes. “I tolerated him because I was worried about Darling.”
“Suki?” Carter calls out from the living room.
“I’m in the bathroom with Mara.”
There’s a pause before he says. “I don’t even want to know.”
I reach for the doorknob, but she bats my hand away. “You weren’t just smiling with your mouth in that picture. Everything was smiling. Your eyes—your whole face, really. Even your boobs looked perkier than usual.”
“What?” I gape at her. “Look, I know you love Leo and all, but he and I are never, ever getting together. Like ever.”
“So you’re saying I should wait to try to get pregnant so we can have babies at the same time. Maybe yours will have Leo’s green eyes.”
This time, my laughter is genuinely amused. “You’re trying to bait me, and I’m not falling for it. I have to get back to work.”
When I walk out of the bathroom, Hallie is snuggling with Darling on the couch.
“Where’s Uncle Leo?” she asks. “I wanted to see Birdie.”
“They had to leave early, but I’m sure they’ll be over soon.” I walk over to her. “How was Fiji?”
“Fun! We stayed in a hut with water underneath it. I went swimming every day.”
“Every day?”
She grins, the gap from a missing tooth making me want to smoosh her in a hug. “And I ate pineapple cake and went to a waterfall.”
“Sounds like a blast. Did you miss Darling?”
“Yeah.” She climbs on top of him and wraps her arms around him. “Was he sad?”
“Nah. He did great, but I know he’s happy you’re home.”
Carter walks into the room. “Hey, where’s Leo?”
“He had an appointment to get to, I don’t know what it was. And I have to get back to work, so ... Noodle went out to potty about fifteen minutes ago. The plants are all watered. Except for the aloe, which is in the laundry room—so Darling can’t get to it.”
“Hey, thanks for your help,” Suki says.
