Thirty-five and Single

“She’s a junkie. When she’s clean, she’s the best there is. But when she’s not—”

His eyes drop and I can tell he feels guilty. “She called me.”

Of course she had. She’s on a spiral and he’s half in love with her.

“What did she want?”

I don’t expect him to tell me, but I ask anyway.

His head pops up and in his glare I find challenge.

“A job. She swore she was clean.”

He doesn’t know her like I do.

“Yeah.”

“Yeah,” he says.

“Trust me. Leave it. Calli’s not the answer.”

Ronnie says nothing and the bell dings as it opens. In walks the devil herself.

Calli’s eyes are glazed like donut holes, round and wide.

“Joel,” she slurs with a sleepy smile.

She isn’t who I see. It’s the small child at her side with eyes like mine.

He runs over and I scoop him up. “Hey, buddy,” I murmur in his ear.

“Hi, Ronnie,” Calli says to my partner with a goofy grin.

I give him a look that he reads instantly.

She’s higher than a kite.

“Joel, can I talk to you?” she asks.

I say to Ronnie, “I’ll talk to you later. I’m heading out.”

He nods and I walk Calli outside, still holding Aaron in my arms.

“I need some money,” is the first thing out of her mouth.

Though I already know the answer, I ask the question anyway. “What happened to the money I gave you the other day?”

“It’s gone,” she says with a smirk. “And Aaron’s hungry.”

There’s no way I’m giving her more cash.

“You go. I’ve got him.”

“What?” she says, knowing her plan to play on my sympathy isn’t working.

“I’ll drop him with your mother.”

That’s where she’s staying and where Aaron is supposed to be safe according to the courts.

“He’s not yours,” she says, all traces of a smile gone from her mouth.

She’s told me that a million times. Yet, it doesn’t take away the responsibility I feel for him.

“I’ll feed him and get him home,” I say, staring holes into her.

She points a finger at me. “You won’t take my son from me.”

“Then get your shit together, Calli,” I say soft enough so the world doesn’t hear us but loud enough she understands.

Aaron is quiet as he always is and immediately, I regret exchanging hateful words with her in front of him. He may not understand it all, but our faces give us away.

She changes her tune. “You love me, Joel.”

There had been a time I’d thought so.

“I wish you loved yourself.”

You’d thought I laid hands on her the way she stumbles back.

“He’s not yours, Joel. He’ll never be yours,” she says before swiftly disappearing into the sidewalk crush of people.

Maybe it’s time to change that.

“Let’s get you something to eat,” I say to Aaron.

Chapter Ten

Olivia

Sitting at my desk, I seriously consider my job options. Instead of finishing my degree, I’d gone to work to help put my cheating-ass husband through law school. Thus, my options for a job are limited. I’d given up a job a few years back to focus on having a baby.

My current title of office manager doesn’t make me one. I’m a glorified receptionist at a dental practice of one dentist and two part-time hygienists. So here I am, trying not to have a meltdown as the two young female hygienists bounce on their toes while I can’t get past that it’s been three days, if you count Sunday, and I haven’t seen Joel.

“Olivia.”

I glance up and seriously have to blink a few times to make sure I’m not dreaming.

“Joel?”

His eyes rove over me, and I become totally self-conscious. My hair is pulled back into a ponytail. My white button-down blouse is so boring and probably screams middle-aged when I’m not there yet.

“Oh, give me a minute.” I hold up a finger.

Clearly, he’s here to meet the girl I told him I’d hook him up with. And I would prefer him not to say it. So I pick up my phone and call to the back. Our last patient before lunch just left.

When she answers, I ask, “Cara, can you come to the front for a second?”

“Sure.” Her reply is bright and cheery, while I feel as though a storm cloud has formed over my head.

She’s a super sweet girl and the right person for Joel, I try and fail to convince myself. But it’s too late to back down now.

“Olivia,” Joel says, but thankfully, Cara doesn’t take her time and bounds around the corner.

“Joel, this is Cara. Cara, this is Joel. I know this is weird, but I told Joel I thought you guys should meet.”

Joel glances at me before his attention turns to Cara, whose interest in him is obvious. I do my best not to watch because it hurts too much.

“Olivia,” Cara says, giggling with approval. “I trust Olivia, so why not? Do you have any plans tonight?”

Cara’s grin can’t get any wider. She’d be perfect for a teeth whitening commercial right about now. Maybe Orbitz gum. Mentally, I slap myself.