Page 8 of Salace

Ouch,I think, as I swallow the sudden lump in my throat. I’m not close to tears by any means, I just wasn’t expecting to havethatmuch truth tossed into my lap.

“So, not good,” I discern clumsily, as I reach for my spoon again.

She rolls her eyes as she reaches for her tiny bowl and looks down at it. “No.”

“We don’t have to go back to your place after we finish up here, you know,” I offer in a friendly tone. “We can always–”

“Listen,” she barks, cutting me off and pointing her spoon at me. “I appreciate the gesture, and even though I don’t want to be home, I’d rather be there than here.”

“With me?” I ask quietly.

Aimee lets out a frustrated grunt as she pushes her bowl away, crosses her arms over her chest, and looks at her reflection across the room.

“It’s not the company, Kasey. I just worry that Julia will end up hurting herself somehow, or worse, if I’m not there to watch her.”

“Okay, well,” I state thoughtfully, as I push my chair back and get to my feet, “if you don’t mind the company, how about I hang out at your place for a while? That way we can still talk, you can get to know me a little more than ‘barely,’ and we’ll be able to keep an eye on her?”

Aimee looks up at me again with a sliver of hope shining behind her eyes, and I do my best not to smile. I’ve come to realize that anytime I do, she scrunches up her face, and I almost feel like she wants to deck me.

“I guess that would be okay,” she finally concedes, as she pushes her chair back and picks up her dainty bowl.

Don’t smile. Don’t do it. Don’t…

Aimee sighs as my lips curve up and I give her a goofy grin.

I can’t help it, though.

A pretty girl like her shouldn’t be so sad, and if hanging around her helps take her mind off things, then Eden will understand when I finally turn my phone back on later.

As we toss our treats into the wastebasket, I do my best not to wish we had just taken them to go. I remind myself that, apparently, there are bigger problems in the world than my tossing an amazing ice cream sundae.

Leading the way to the door, I push it open, stand to the side, and let Aimee walk out first. Is this wrong? To do this behind Eden’s back? I haven’t figured it out yet, but it doesn’t feel like it is.

Besides, who doesn’t need a friend every now and again?

I have to remind myself that it’s all I can offer for now until I can figure out how shereallyfeels about me. Outside of her perpetual shade of sadness and anger. Friendship is great but… I just happen to have different feelings for Aimee.

And her mother.

JULIA

Iabsolutely hate Sunday evenings. I hate being alone in the house. I hate that he has primary custody. I hate that Aimee called Mac to pick her up instead of letting me drive her home. I don’t want him here. I don’t want to see him. I don’t want the lecture or dirty looks or worse, have to face the indifference that rolls off him when it comes to me.

Aimee walks Kasey to the door shortly before her father is due to arrive. I don’t blame her. No one wants to put a stranger in the middle of the dumpster fire that is Mac and me.

“See you, Ms. H. Thanks for having me.”

I grin and wink at him. “Any time,” I answer.

Aimee shoots laser beams at my head. If looks could kill, I’d be a goner. Once the doors close and Kasey’s gone, she plops down on the opposite end of the couch. “Mom, you can’t wink at people. It’s creepy. You look like a pedo.”

“Oh stop. I was just being nice.”

“You were being a creep,” she snaps.

“Someone’s touchy. Something happen with your Dad? You guys fighting?”

Aimee runs her hands through her hair and sighs. “No. Dad’s not the problem. He never is.”

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