After last night, I’m more in love with Allie than ever. I’m also at a loss to figure out how things could work between us, though.FourteenAllieSteam rises up from the sink as I drain spaghetti noodles from a pot of boiling water, giving me a mini facial as I shake the last of the water from the strainer.
Someone comes in the house through the back door and I call out, “Hey.”
“Hey,” Max says.
I hear his heavy backpack dropping to the ground before he walks into the kitchen.
“How’s your day going?” I ask him.
“Good. I got a new PR on the mile at practice today.”
“That’s great.”
He takes a container of leftover pot roast out of the fridge and opens it.
“Dinner’s almost done,” I tell him. “Just another ten minutes for the garlic bread.”
Max pulls off a hunk of meat and shoves it into his mouth.
“You can’t wait ten minutes?” I ask.
“I’m starving.”
Sighing, I ask, “So what else is going on with you? I hardly ever see you these days.”
“I put in an application to work for the park district this summer.”
“That’s good.” I pour meat sauce over the bowl of spaghetti and mix it. “I’ll put in a good word with Cade next time I see him; the rec center is part of the park district and he has connections.”
“Cool.” Max replaces the lid on the container of pot roast and puts it back in the fridge, and then he turns to give me a serious look. “And just so you know, there’s no way I’m going with Mom. I don’t care what Vi does.”
“Going where? I thought they were at the hair salon today.”
“Vi told me this morning that Mom wants us to come live with her, and she’s going.”
I look up from the pot of spaghetti, my heart racing with anger. “What?”
“You didn’t know?”
“She can’t just take you guys, I have full custody.”
“I know. I told Vi that, but she’s convinced she’s moving to California with her.”
My head spins at the thought. I’ve been letting Vi spend most of her time with Jenna while she’s here, and apparently Jenna has used that time to put this idea in her head. And even though Vi’s not going, I’m pissed at Jenna for even suggesting it. Now I have to be the bad guy and spoil the fun Jenna promised her.
I set the table, my hands shaking as I arrange forks and napkins, eager for a distraction. So much for my good mood. I can’t believe Jenna has the nerve to come stay in my home and go behind my back this way.
The back door opens again, and Vi comes breezing in, all smiles, with Jenna behind her.
“What do you think?” Vi asks me, turning around to show me her new haircut and lighter blond color.
“Very pretty.”
“Mom told the stylist to go lighter than she was going to, and I love it!”
Vi beams at my sister, and I feel a surge of jealousy.
“Dinner smells good,” Jenna says, setting her bag down.
Max moves the spaghetti to the table and I take the bread out of the oven, cutting it with a little more force than needed.
“Hey, Aunt Allie,” Vi says, “Hazel told me her hockey coach used to be your boyfriend, is that true?”
“Yes.”
“And now he’s in the NHL? That’s so cool!”
“No way,” Max says, sounding impressed. “That Erik guy?”
“Erik Zimmerman,” Jenna says.
“And now he’s Hazel’s hockey coach?” Max asks.
“He’s only helping out with the youth league while he’s in town for about a month,” I say as I set a platter of garlic bread on the table.
“Hazel says he’s cute,” Vi says. “I want to meet him.”
I take a deep breath, trying to keep my cool. I know I should wait to talk to Jenna about this in private later, but it’s eating me up inside. If she’s been making plans with Vi behind my back, she’s not spending another night in my home.
“So what’s this I hear about the kids moving in with you?” I ask Jenna, meeting her gaze across the table.
“I was going to talk to you about it.” She smiles at Vi and then looks back at me. “I’m in a really good place and I have room for them now.”
I set my fork down and say, “Max, Vi, please finish your dinner in your rooms.”
Max scoots his chair back, grabs his plate and goes. Vi doesn’t move.
“Aunt Allie, don’t get mad.”
“Your mother and I need to talk. Please finish dinner in your room.”
“No.”
I arch my brows at her. “I’m not asking, Vi.”
“I’m not letting you ruin this for me.”
I close my eyes and press my fingers to my temples on both sides of my head. “Look, there are things you don’t know. Things you don’t need to know. This is between me and Jenna.”
“But it concerns me, too. She’s my mom and I want to be with her.”