“I ripped a hole in the butt.”
I can hear my mom say something in the background, and whatever it is makes Nova laugh.
“Nana said my tush was hanging out.”
“You farted, didn’t you? Blew the butt right out of your suit. I told you your farts are toxic.”
“No, Daddy,” she says, giggling.
Nova’s laugh is infectious, and I find myself laughing along with her.
&nb
sp; Next thing I know, she’s rushing off the phone. “Daddy, my food is here. I gotta go. I miss you and I love you.”
“I love you, too,” I say, but my little girl is already gone.
“Hi, sweetie,” Mom says, having taken the phone from Nova. “Are you enjoying your free time? Getting some work done around the house like you wanted?”
I look down at my ankle, which is still slightly swollen after the work I’ve put it through the last few days, but feeling much better. I know if I tell her about the accident, she’ll turn into a mother hen. “Nah, just been catching up on extra work down at the shop.”
“That’s good, honey. Just remember to take some time for yourself too. Enjoy the quiet while you’ve got it.”
The quiet is actually driving me insane.
“I’m trying.”
There’s some commotion in the background, and then Mom says, “Okay, I gotta go before my food gets cold.”
“All right, call me again in the morning?”
“We will, sweetie.”
“And make sure you’re keeping Nova on her sleep schedule. I don’t want her getting off of it or I’ll never get her back on.”
“Bedtime is eight o’clock. We’ve got it. Now I have to go. I love you!”
The phone disconnects and then rings again a few seconds later.
“Forget something?” I ask, answering without looking at the screen.
“No, but you did, dumbass.”
I frown at Mikey’s harsh tone.
“Lennon’s here,” he adds.
My heart hammers in my chest. “Where’s here?”
“Dirty Dicks.”
I fly off of the porch swing. “Dirty Dicks? What the hell is Lennon doing at Dirty Dicks?”
“Well, by the looks of it, she’s getting cozy with your cousin.”
Son of a bitch. “Coop or Rhett?”
“Coop.”