Page 24 of Say You'll Stay

Honestly, whatever helps her feel better. The hate she pretends to hold for me will disappear eventually and the real back-and-forth begins. But damn if I won’t try to piss her off every once in a while just to see that nose wrinkle and the line form between her brows. Then those eyes, I swear, turn into a darker shade of green when she’s angry. It’s probably one of her best qualities. Theangry momlook.

I mean, apart from other things, a man in a semi-serious relationship shouldn’t think about things like that.

Hell, if she doesn’t make me forget about that when her face softens or the way her tongue pokes out just a little when she’s concentrating. I should stop thinking about that.

“Can I get your number?”

She freezes at that and narrows her eyes to slits like I just asked for her banking information. “Why?”

She just parked her car in the lot back at work, and we’re the only ones out here. “So we can communicate?”

She holds a hand out to me, and I give her my phone. Her thumbs beat against the screen with just a touch of annoyance, but I know she’s just trying to keep whatever anger she has. It’s a wall I’m going to break because deep down, I actuallylikeAllie. We’re two of the same people and she’ll come to realize that and this co-parenting will be a breeze.

“If you dare call or text me when you are drunk or something, I’m changing my number and never giving you the new one. You’ll have to send me letters in the mail if you need to tell me something.”

“Or I’ll just get it from your dad.”

Eyes, again, narrowed to paper-thin slits, she pierces through the veil of tension between us. “My father would never just give my phone number out.”

My lips curl upward and Allie’s curl down. “I beg to differ. But even then, I would just show up at the house if that’s the case.”

She points a finger at me. “Listen, I don’t mind you coming over, but I would appreciate some notice. If you show up whenever you feel like it, then that sets the standard. Then I’ll just show up at your place and then we have a habit of coming to one another’s...habitats... at will.”

“Habitats?”

“Yes.” Allie huffs and reaches for the handle of the door.

“Did you want my number?”

“You’ll message me when you feel like it.” She steps out and grabs Jadon from his seat, and I make a note to pick up the same model seat she has for him. Another thing I’ll have to figure out is food. I know what vegans don’t eat, but what the helldothey eat? They don’t just live off bananas and water, right?

She doesn’t quite trust me to take Jadon back to the field on my own, so she holds his hand while we walk through the empty school. He’s comfortable with me, but he and I have a little way to go before he’s using the ‘d’ word. And that’s if he ever gets to that point.

“I’ll come to get you later, okay? Make sure grampa uses the sunscreen.”

“Bye!” Jadon sprints across the field toward Tom, who is currently yelling at some players. Rather, shouting loudly while barking orders to stopscrewing around.

With a quiet goodbye and a thank you I’m sure tasted bitter on her tongue for the whole payment thing, she heads off toward the office.

I scroll through my contacts until I find what I know is hers before sending off a message. Just so she has my number.

Lucas:Cute contact name. I’m surprised you didn’t put a middle finger for the contact image.

TheBabyMamaYouBetterNotCall:Sorry, who is this?

It makes me wonder what things would have been like if I went to this school instead of mine. Would she have always pretended to hate me? Maybe not, since we clicked so easily that night. I probably would have sat next to her in classes just to get these reactions. Girls were always too easy where Allie is something else.

Lucas:You know who it is, Allie.

While I wait for her response, I fix her name.

Allie:Right, well don’t lose the rights to my number.

Tom calls me in the distance before I can respond to her, and I pocket my phone.

“What’s with the goofy grin on your face?” he asks. “You look like an idiot.”

“Nothing.” I try to school my features, but can’t help it. His daughter is funny as hell. “Sorry. I’m here.”

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