Smokescreen
“Don’t you dare hang up on me—” she may keep talking but I disconnect the call, fuming.
Stella’s in the front yard with Scout and Jake when I drive up. Even in the shittiest of moods, watching Stella and our dog playing makes me smile.
“Hey!” she shouts running over to me.
“Hey yourself.” I brush my lips against hers lightly and hold her close. Instantly, my temper disappears.
“I may have started a war today so be prepared for your mom to call.”
“What happened?”
“I asked Amy to come stay with Scout and watch the house while we’re gone. Sara overheard and got upset. I think I hurt her feelings.”
“Have Mom pick up Scout on her way to your office each day. She can have days and Amy can have nights.”
“Great idea! I’ll tell her tomorrow. How was your day?”
“Better now. Let’s go inside, we need to talk.”
“Been waiting for this all day,” Jake mumbles.
“You can go now man, thanks.”
“Seriously? There’s a chance you’re going to get your ass kicked and you’re dismissing me?”
“What the hell is going on?” Stella asks, her eyes darting between the two of us.
Instead of answering her, I stare at him, trying to figure out how he knows. “Laci?”
“Of course man, she may be on her way right now.”
“Shit!”
“Tell me right now what the two of you are talking about!”
“Okay, babe. But let’s go inside.” I guide her towards the house.
As soon as we are inside, she stomps to the kitchen and pours herself a glass of wine. Jake gets two beers and hands o
ne to me, waiting.
“You know, this is really a private conversation.”
“I’m sure you’ll need privacy soon. But this is too good to pass up.”
Stella clears her throat, staring at me.
“Babe, I tried everything possible for months to get Erica out of the photo shoot. I thought she backed out voluntarily until this morning.”
“You’re kidding me? I thought we were done with this hussy.”
“Apparently not. But I made some last minute adjustments.”
“What kind of adjustments?”
“You’re doing the shoot with us.”
Her face changes from anxious to disbelief, then to furious within ten seconds. “Absolutely no fucking way! You are insane!”