Easy (Chicago Blaze 6)

There’s a knock at the back door and Jenna pushes it open.

“Hi,” she says, giving Hazel a tentative look.

I hope she’s smart enough not to push Hazel by running over and hugging her or anything. The last thing the kids and I need is another night of drama and arguing.

“Hey,” Hazel says, still chopping.

“I brought this,” Jenna says, walking over to the counter and setting down a bottle of red wine. “Peace offering?”

I paste on a fake smile and thank her. I’d actually buy her bullshit if I didn’t know she was hitting on Erik earlier today and hoping to hook up with him tonight.

Hazel and I put our simple dinner of barbeque chicken, mac and cheese, and salad on the table. Vi and Max come in the kitchen and we all sit down.

“Your cooking is bad for my waistline,” Jenna says, laughing lightly. “But it looks delicious.”

The kids tell her about their last day of school and their plans for the summer. Vi’s got a babysitting job lined up watching our neighbor’s kids, Hazel is signed up for multiple sports camps, and Max will be working on a local farm and training for football.

For the sake of the kids, I play along. I laugh when I’m supposed to and pretend to be interested in Jenna’s stories about sailing trips with her last boyfriend. But I’m relieved when I’m finally clearing dishes away and dinner is over.

“How much longer are you staying, Mom?” Vi asks Jenna.

“I don’t know. At least a few days.”

“Do you want to hang out later? Hazel and I are going to a party, but we could just stay for like an hour and then come back to see you.”

“Oh, I wish I could.” Jenna frowns. “I’m helping my friend Elle decorate for a baby shower she’s hosting tomorrow.”

“I’m gonna go get ready for the party,” Hazel says, getting up from the table.

“I guess I should, too,” Vi says.

Max at least rinses his plate and puts it in the dishwasher, but as soon as he’s done, he says, “I’m going out with Adam and some other guys.”

“Be home by midnight.”

“12:30?”

“Midnight. Be smart and be careful.”

“I will.”

I turn on the kitchen faucet and start rinsing the rest of the dishes and Jenna walks over, leaning against the kitchen counter. “Hey, thanks for dinner. It was great. I need to go meet Elle.”

“Okay, have a good night,” I say, not looking up from the sink.

“You too. Do you have plans with Erik?”

My blood heats, but I keep my cool and play along. “No, he said he was doing something else tonight. I’ll probably read and go to bed early.”

“Oh,” she says, trying to sound nonchalant. “Okay, well enjoy a night to yourself. You deserve it.”

She goes out through the back door and I look up once she’s gone.

Fucking. Bitch.

Not to mention, worst sister ever. Jenna may think Erik’s meeting her at that bar tonight, but she’s going to be surprised when it’s me who shows up instead.* * *“Make good choices!” I call to the girls as they get out of the car.

Vi shakes her head, mortified, and Hazel ignores me. Super awesome.

I guess other parents just believe their teenagers when they say parents will be present during the party, but I called ahead today to check. The last thing I need in my life is for one of the kids to become a teen parent.

Finally alone in my car, I crank some Eminem and head for the dollar store. I know exactly which place Jenna meant when Erik mentioned the new bar and grill. It’s been popular since it opened, and I hear the food’s great.

The parking lot is getting full, and it’s only 7:00 p.m. I have to park several blocks away from the entrance, and I scan the lot as I’m walking towards the building, trying to spot Jenna’s old red Jeep.

I don’t see it, but the parking lot is huge and I may have just missed it. When I walk into the bar, I’m hit by a wave of cool air and the sound of country music. People are dancing and every barstool is occupied.

“Allie, hey,” a woman from work says as she touches my arm.

“Hey, Grace.”

I’d stay and chat, but I’m on a mission. I scan every face I see, making it to the pool tables at the back of the bar before I find Jenna perched on a stool at a high-top table. She changed into a tight red tank top and cutoff shorts, her hair down and a bottle of beer in her hand.

Busy laughing at the story the person next to her is telling, she doesn’t even see me coming. I’m so pissed I imagine grabbing a beer bottle and knocking it against a table to shatter it into a weapon like I’ve seen in the movies. Unfortunately, this is real life and I’m not that badass.