Page 65 of Brews & Bartenders

I don’t bother answering, and hurry into the kitchen with the games. All three kids are sitting at the table when I walk in. A drink sitting in front of each of them. They have a wine glass in front of my chair. I’m not sure if I should be offended or not.

I hold both games in the air, “So which do we want to play?”

“Literally anything other than Monopoly.” Gabriela takes a drink. “If we start that one, we’ll be here all night.”

“You’re right, and I definitely don’t want to do that.” I turn and toss that game onto the couch. “Set this up while I pour myself a glass of wine.”

David takes the game out of the box, and the girls get all the small pieces, shuffle the cards and wait until I’m back to pick colors. “I want to go first.” Of course, he does.

“You always go first,” I motion toward Marisol and Gabriela, “why don’t we let our guests do the honors this time?”

“It’s okay, Caroline.” Gabi grins up at me.

“Yeah.” Marisol adds. “Today is his day after that awesome game. Who knows? Maybe if he goes first, he’ll pull off another win.”

“You two aren’t helping his ego, at all.”

Both of them laugh and set their pieces in the start area. “Let’s get this game going.”

We’re halfway through the board, David is of course winning, when there’s a knock at the door. I wasn’t expecting anyone. Reaf and Tonya have a date night and Mom is watching Layla. Bryce is God knows where before he heads back to school.

Pushing the chair back, I get up and walk toward the front door. The girls have gone quiet, and keep shooting glances in my direction. Before my hand is even on the knob, I have a gut feeling about who it is.

I take two deep breaths, turn the knob before pulling it open. Just as I suspected…Carlos is standing in front of me. “What are you doing here?”

“Can, uh, you come outside for a second?” He won’t look me in the eyes, and whatever I say now will set the tone between us. “I need to talk to you.”

All three kids look at the board when I turn their direction. Yeah, this conversation can’t be had here. Not when they will listen to every word. “Keep playing, and skip me. Okay?”

The three of them nod, and David pulls a card from the deck. If the girls try to listen in, my kid will snitch. He has no problem tattling.

I walk through the door and close it behind me. It’s dark out here, and I’m glad for the cover. My emotions will be hidden, but so will his. The chair at the farthest edge of the porch is calling my name and I make my way toward it.

He follows behind and sits in the chair on the other side of the table. A reversal of how we sat out here that one night. When Nathan spilled the beans about Carlos to David. This time he doesn’t have ice cream, and I can’t help but think that’s a bad omen.

Leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, he clasps his hands in front of him. “I wanted to apologize for today. I should have kept my mouth shut. It’s not my place to intervene when it comes to your ex-husband.”

“You’re correct. I told you I had it, but you wouldn’t stop.” I lean back in my chair, my head hanging over the back. “Do you realize how weak I felt not being given the chance to defend myself or decisions to him?”

“I’m sorry,” he says again. “But I couldn’t let him talk about you the way he was. Not about the woman I love.” His mouth snaps shut. He didn’t mean to say that.

“Wh—what was that?” I want to make sure I heard him right.

“I said.” He clears his throat, “I couldn’t let him bash the woman I love. And I understand if you don’t love me back. I also understand if you want to break up with me because I was out of line. It wasn’t the time.”

“Did you go to work tonight?” If he’s this frazzled right now, I can’t imagine him being behind the bar serving drinks. Also, I’m curious.

He shakes his head and stares at his shoes. “I went to talk to my mom. She scolded me, and told me to figure it out. That I ‘better not do anything to ruin this relationship and to try at all costs to win you back.’ She wasn’t very nice about it, either.”

“Did you really need to be told that?”

“Not even a little bit. I was going to wait until morning and show up with breakfast, but I couldn’t. I had to let you know that you’re it for me.”

“I—.” I begin but he holds up a hand.

“Hold on, I have something for you.” He jumps out of his chair and rushes to his car. He has something in his hands, and gives it to me. “It might be melted, but my sisters said ice cream helps everything.”

“So does wine.” I laugh and open the container. The ice cream is definitely melted, and it drips down the side of the carton. Setting both of them down on the table, I stand and our eyes meet. “I know we won’t figure everything out at once, but until I get things squared away with Nathan, I need you to let me fight my own battles.”

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