Page 96 of Loving the Sinner
“What are you even doing here, Packer?” I ask, rummaging through the boxes of plastic utensils.Where are the damn spoons?!
“Your mom invited me. Said she wanted my opinion on your new boyfriend. She’s concerned about you, Elli. And so am I.” Healmostsounds sincere.
I finally find the box of spoons and rip it from the closet, turning to face my ex. “Your opinion of Wes means about as much to me as a bug on the bottom of a shoe. You lost the right to be concerned when you broke up with me.”
“Come on, Elli. You know as well as I do we never would have worked out in the long run. You would have hated to be a stay at home mom, and that’s what I wanted. Besides, when she turned eighteen and messaged me that she was moving here for school, I knew she was who I was meant to be with. When you know you know.”
“So you wasted both of our time knowing I wasn’t what you wanted? Was I just a place holder or something?” I want to scream.
Packer shrugs, “Well, yeah. I guess. Tiffwantsto stay home and raise our kids. She’s more… open to criticism too. Plus, she’s not too bad on the eyes, am I right? She’ll bounce back fast from having the baby.” He nudges my shoulder, like I’m in on the joke.
I swear to god I’m going to puke. “That… is disgusting. I’m so glad your child bride makes you happy. Thank goodness I’m not stuck with a pig like you.”
“She’s nineteen! Not a child.” He defends.
“She still hasteenin her age, Packer. That’s weird.”
He scoffs, “Well at least she’s pleasing to look at. Not some freak covered in tattoos and piercings like yourboyfriend.” He uses a mocking tone when he says “boyfriend,” and any patience I may have had evaporates.
“I’m not doing this with you. Best of luck with your teen wife. Goodbye, Packer.” I say as I walk away. I can’t deal with him right now, or ever. I can’t believe Ieverthought about marrying him.
What a dodged bullet.
I take the spoons back to my mom, and look around for Wes, who’s currently talking to one of my little cousins, Kamber. She’s five, and looks like she’s asking him about his tattoos. I see her parents are watching him like at any minute he’s going to pull out a tattoo gun and put an “I heart mom” tattoo on her arm.
But Wes looks like a big cuddly dog with her, smiling and nodding, answering all of her questions enthusiastically. Kamber pets his hair and then pets hers, showing off her braid. She asks him something and he nods enthusiastically and sits directly on the floor. Kamber goes to stand behind him and starts to braid his hair, though not very well.
I walk over and squat down to her level. “Whatcha doin’ Kamber?”
“Bwaiding Wes’s hair.” She says seriously, her tongue poking out in concentration.
“It looks really good, have you been practicing?” I ask.
“Yes. Mommy lets me pwactice on her hair sometimes. I’m still wowking on it.” She turns her big brown eyes on me and asks, “Can you bwaid?”
“I sure can. I braid my hair all the time. Would you like some help?”
“Yes!”
“Okay. Why don’t you go ask Izzy for a hair tie and I’ll get started on this.”
Shenods and jumps up, running over to Izzy and asking for a hair tie.
When she comes back, I’m already halfway done. I’ve played with Wes’s hair before, but I’m always amazed at how soft and thick it is. Kamber asks if she can put the hair tie in at the end, and I say yes.
“Wow Elli. You’re weally good at bwaiding!”
“Do you think I look as pretty as you do, Kamber?” Wes asks.
Kamber giggles, “Boys can’t look pwetty. They look handsome.”
“I think anyone can look pretty. Besides, I have such looong hair, I think the only way to describe it is pretty!” Wes says, flipping the braid over his shoulder.
“Then yes. You look pwetty.”
“Thank you, Kamber.”
“Okay, Kamber. It’s time to go potty so we can go home.” Her mom, Katelynn, says with a forced smile to me and Wes.
