Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 110113 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 551(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110113 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 551(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
“I be good!” she calls back.
I wanna kiss Ava. So I do, a quick peck on the lips. I know I’m risking the girls seeing us—I have no idea what we’d tell them, or if we should tell them at all—but I’m too tired to care.
I shove my grilled cheese in my mouth, and then I fall face-first into bed.
I’m asleep before I even take my phone out of my pocket.
I wake up with drool on my pillow. I’m a little sweaty.
Prying open my eyes, I see that the light in the room has changed. It’s warmer, almost golden.
My stomach flips. What time is it? How long was I out for?
The house is silent.
Sitting up, I press the heel of my hand into one eye, then the other. I slept hard. I don’t remember what day it is or how I got to my bed.
All I remember is Ava ordering me around.
My palm smarts as I dig my other hand into my back pocket, grabbing my phone. Oh, right. I burned this hand lifting the piping hot lid off a skillet.
“Holy shit,” I murmur when I see that it’s four fucking o’clock.
I slept for over four hours. Ava came over at eleven thirty, right?
To be honest, I could probably sleep for four more.
Really, I could sleep all day and all night and still not be caught up. But beggars can’t be choosers, and I really do feel a hundred times better than I did earlier. I’m able to think clearly. My body doesn’t hurt.
Go figure, letting people help you really, er, helps.
I have a text from Ava. Kinda scary that I was in such a deep sleep that I didn’t hear the notification, but I imagine she would’ve woken me up if there was an emergency, right?
AVA BARTLETT
Hey! I didn’t want the girls waking you up, so I took them to my place. I had an extra car seat in my car for Ella that Lee uses sometimes. Give me a ring when you wake up, which I hope isn’t for several more hours. Proud of you for getting rest [heart emoji]
Seriously, when am I gonna stop smiling like an idiot?
Lifting the phone to my ear, I come up with a plan.
First, pack up the liquor.
Second, hit up the grocery store.
Third, head to Ava’s.
No, wait, first I need to slip some condoms into my glove box. Just on the off chance we can get the girls to watch a movie. I only need a few minutes. Ten tops. It will be quick, but I’ll make it good.
“Well hey there, cowboy,” Ava singsongs when she picks up. “How was your nap?”
“Fucking amazing. Thank you. I drooled on myself and everything.”
“Did you have a little sweat going on?”
“Hell yeah I had a little sweat going on.”
“So satisfying when that happens. Means you slept well.”
“Like a rock. How are the girls?”
“The girls are doing great. We stole your bubbles and have been playing with that big wand thing you got all afternoon. We broke for a snack, and now we’re coloring at the kitchen table.”
“Ella’s been okay?”
“She asked when you were going to come over a little while ago. But other than that, she’s been happy as a clam.”
There’s a sudden, heavy warmth in the center of my chest. I press my fingers into my breastbone, trying to figure out its source. It keeps growing, getting warmer, bigger.
It makes me want to laugh. Not only has Ella been at someone else’s house for an extended period of time without issue. She’s also already comfortable enough with Ava for that to happen.
Guess I’m not Ava’s only fan. I know Ella loves how fun Ava is. How easily she can access her silly side.
I love that too.
“Relieved to hear that,” I say.
“How’s your hand?”
“It’ll be fine. I was more tired than I’d thought. Thanks again for the break. I really appreciate it, Ava.”
I imagine her digging her teeth into her bottom lip.
“I know you do.”
“So, listen. I’m gonna grab a quick shower. Then I’m gonna head your way with dinner.”
A pause.
“That sounds so nice.”
“You like steak?”
“I do, but—”
“Mezcal?”
“Love it. But you already made lunch, so I thought I’d make din—”
“My turn to take over, and your turn to rest. That’s how this works. I’ll be there in an hour.”
She sighs. “You sure?”
“This is what you were talking about, Ava,” I tease. “Let people help you.”
CHAPTER 26
Ava
PARTNERS IN CRIME
I’m buzzed.
I have a full belly, a delicious mezcal negroni in my hand—my second—and a crowded dinner table.
My daughter is smiling. My house smells delicious. The stars are just blinking awake in the lavender sky outside the windows beside my chair.
Best of all, the four of us, Sawyer, Ella, Junie, and me, worked together to make this meal happen. Sawyer brought the food and mixed the drinks. The girls and I set the table, and then we played several rounds of duck duck goose while he seared the steaks in a cast iron skillet he’d brought over.