Page 199 of Steeling Her
“It’s okay. Just don’t do it again and not in front of Taylor.” I nod as I take the spoon from him and place it into the sink to grab a fresh one.
“I won’t. I apologized to her too.” He chuckles, making me smile and turn my head back towards him. It reminds me how much I’ve missed his laugh.
“And how did that go?” Haley leans on her elbows with a cheeky smile on her face.
“I got put in the naughty corner for a while, but I got a hug out of it too. She forgave me and let me back in the pool with her.” He grinned, making us all laugh at the punishment she gave him. She has taken a liking to him and I’m not at all surprised by it. He’s good with her.
“Good, you deserve it for scaring her.” Danielle smiles while pointing the knife at him. He holds both his hands up in the air and smirks at the mama bear in her coming out. “That little madam won’t take any crap from you boys, that’s for sure. She gets it from her mama.” Danielle flips her hair over her shoulder for dramatic effect.
“I won’t argue with that.” He smiles and taps the side of the sliding door. “I better leave you girls to it. Call for me if you need any help, alright?” he says over his shoulder. Even though he wasn’t just asking me, he was looking at me, and I nod back like he was only talking to me. I watch him leave and stare at the space he once occupied moments ago, with the beaming light from the sun streaming through the gap. The sound of splashes and squeals echo around the kitchen from out back.
I snap myself out of it and turn back around to the task I’ve been assigned to do. I feel both of their eyes on me, so I look up and I’m met with two pairs of eyes staring at me blankly. Both Danielle and Haley look like they’re wondering the same thing.
“What?” I ask them and they shake their head before continuing with the prep. “What? Why did you both give me that look?” I ask again, setting the spoon back down on the counter.
“Nothing,” they both reply in unison.
I shrug it off and carry the bowls out to the adult’s table. I could manage three at the same time but that was as far as I could go.
When the family gathers around to get some food, I slip back into the kitchen to get another plate for myself as we were one short. Not making a big deal of it, I find one for myself.
“Yeah, sure, I’ll be there in thirty.” I freeze after hearing his voice and sigh as I set myself back down from the tips of my toes, refusing to turn around and meet his eyes.
I place the plate on the counter and feel my patience run dry. I’ve given this man so much, even an entire night for his work, and he can’t give me an afternoon. He can’t even give my niece, the birthday girl, a moment of his time; he barely interacts with her. “Hey,” Ted starts but I take in a deep breath. “Carter, babe.” I roll my eyes and turn around to face him. Smiling sweetly, I wait for him to say what I already know he’s going to say. Before he has any chance to say anything, his phone rings again.
I lose it.
I have the patience of a saint, but right now, a saint wouldn’t even put up with that.
Rest in peace, Ted’s phone, because you’re about to be launched through the backyard and into a neighbor’s home. I know they have a pool close to the wall too.Even better.
I grab his phone and stomp back outside with no mercy.
“Carter!” he yells at me and I take one step forward as soon as I get outside. Storming over to the wall, I know everyone is watching me. “Carter! Give it back. That could be important!”
I launch it across the backyard, over the hedges, and into the neighbor’s pool where it dives in and disappears, sinking to the bottom of the outrageously large swimming pool. My dad taught me how to throw a proper throw ever since I could walk. At least my dad won’t judge me on the spiral or lack thereof.
“I’m important too, Ted,” I remind him. “Just go.” I walk away from him to go back inside and grab my plate. I threw a tantrum, just like my niece and I knew I looked ridiculous but I just couldn’t put up with that ringtone anymore. It haunts me.
“You literally just launched my phone into a pool. My WORK phone too! What am I going to do now?” He yells at me. I pay no mind to him as I return back to the kitchen. I take hold of my plate and smile at him.
“Not my problem,” I quip back.
He takes hold of my arm and spins me around. “Uh, yes it is. You fucked my phone into a pool. You did that! I’m going to have to get another one now!” he whisper yells at me stepping a little closer.
“Oh, God forbid. Are you listening to yourself?” I point at him and wonder what the hell is running through his head. Those phone calls are to blame and the person on the other end of the call was to blame.
Not my problem.
“What is wrong with you?” Ted steps back, surprised by my outburst.
“Loosen that grip on her,” my dad warns him. He does but still holds onto my wrist with a lot of conviction.
“That fucking phone. Ted, I’ve been patient with you and your career. I want what’s best for you, I really do, but sometimes, I feel like I have to compete with your phone. That’s not how it should be. There needs to be more of a balance between your career and our relationship,” I tell him the one thing that I have kept to myself for the last year. I finally let him hear it. I could literally feel the weight being lifted off my shoulders as I find my backbone and communicate my feelings.
“My career means everything to me. You know this,” he says and I shake my head, disappointed by his words.
“Just go.” I point my head out of the kitchen door and push past him.
